In addition to the routine assistance the Justice Center communications staff provides to journalists, it also disseminates periodic Press Releases. The releases in this section highlight the latest from the Justice Center and important research, products, and other developments.

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2009-11-18

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--- - Nationwide - Nationwide - Nationwide The Criminal Justice Reinvestment Act of 2009 builds on the justice reinvestment work done by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and will provide grants to state and local governments to design and advance data-driven, consensus-based strategies to reduce corrections spending and increase public safety. <div style="color:#10367B"><big>CSG Justice Center Applauds U.S. House and Senate Members' Introduction of Justice Reinvestment Bill</big> Bill Helps State/Local Governments Reduce Corrections Spending and Increase Public Safety</div> Washington, DC—Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), together with Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA), introduced legislation yesterday that will provide grants to state and local governments to design and advance data-driven, consensus-based strategies to reduce corrections spending and increase public safety. The Criminal Justice Reinvestment Act of 2009 builds on the justice reinvestment work done by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center in Texas, Kansas, Vermont, Rhode Island and seven other states. “We applaud the extraordinary bipartisan spirit of this bill, which mirrors the efforts of Democrats and Republicans in states across the country to work across the aisle on this complex issue. It also couldn't be more timely: legislators have learned that with the kind of information that the justice reinvestment approach provides, state and local leaders have better options than just trying to build our way out of our perpetual prison crowding problems,” said CSG Justice Center Board Chair and New York Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry. In the past 20 years, state spending on corrections has grown at a rate faster than nearly any other state budget item, increasing from more than $12 billion in 1988 to more than $50 billion in 2008. Despite this increased expenditure, recidivism rates remain high: a Bureau of Justice Statistics report indicated that half of all studied individuals who were released from state prison were reincarcerated within three years. In response, the Justice Center has worked with a growing number of states to implement the kind of justice reinvestment approaches promoted by this legislation—which provide policymakers with state-specific, data-driven analyses and policy options to help manage the growth of state prison populations, reduce recidivism and increase public safety. “This bill will help state and local governments spend their limited corrections budgets in a more targeted, rational way to both manage inmate population growth and protect public safety,” Senator Whitehouse said. In states where the Justice Center has worked with policymakers who have implemented proposed options, jurisdictions have saved hundreds of millions of dollars in corrections spending. These states have also reinvested a portion of the savings in strategies designed to increase public safety and improve conditions in neighborhoods where most people from prison return. The Justice Center's justice reinvestment initiative has been supported by a public/private partnership that includes the Pew Charitable Trusts' Public Safety Performance Project, the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Open Society Institute and the states receiving intensive technical assistance. The Public Welfare Foundation and Joyce Foundation have contributed to this effort as well. The Criminal Justice Reinvestment Act of 2009 (S.2772/H.R.4080) authorizes the U.S Attorney General to make grants to state and local governments and tribes to help jurisdictions (1) analyze criminal justice trends to understand what is driving the growth in their local jail and prison populations, (2) develop tailored policy options to reduce corrections expenditures and increase the effectiveness of current spending and reinvestment that can make communities safer, (3) implement the proposed policies and programs, and (4) measure the impact of these changes and develop accountability measures. A copy of this press release can be downloaded from the Justice Center <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/media/press_releases">website</a>. The <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org">Council of State Governments Justice Center</a> is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies—informed by available evidence—to increase public safety and strengthen communities. To learn more about the justice reinvestment approach, see <a href="http://www.justicereinvestment.org">www.justicereinvestment.org</a>. For more about the CSG Justice Center, see <a href="http://www.justicecenter.csg.org">www.justicecenter.csg.org</a>. For a copy of the press release from bill sponsors, see <a href="http://whitehouse.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=69C4B8F5-4DDF-49FD-B2D6-3D4EBC1C4F4E">http://whitehouse.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=69C4B8F5-4DDF-49FD-B2D6-3D4EBC1C4F4E</a>. A copy of the legislation will be available at <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov">http://thomas.loc.gov</a>. </td></tr></table></td></tr> Press Releases 36393 Corrections

2009-10-28

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--- [] The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center announced today the release of <a href="http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/probation-essential-elements" target="_blank">Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of Specialized Probation Initiatives</a>. The publication, developed with the support of the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice, identifies 10 key components found in successful initiatives to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses under probation supervision.  Barbara Broderick, president of the American Probation and Parole Association and chief adult probation officer in Maricopa County, Arizona, said, “We in probation, together with judges, prosecutors and the defense bar, have struggled for many years to reduce particularly high rates of reincarceration among probationers with mental illnesses. Until now, there hasn't been a document that focuses specifically on how to improve outcomes for these individuals. The Essential Elements report addresses that gap by providing clear guidance to state and local officials who oversee probation agencies and their partners in the mental health system.”  According to the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ppus07st.pdf" target="_blank">Bureau of Justice Statistics</a> and <a href="http://consensusproject.org/press_releases/new-study-documents-high-prevalence-of-serious-mental-illnesses-among-nations-jail-populations" target="_blank">recent prevalence estimates</a>, there are more than four million people under probation supervision in this country and as many as one in six have serious mental illnesses. The Justice Center's March 2009 <a href="http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/outcomes-mental-illness-community-corrections" target="_blank">Community Corrections Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice</a> found that people with mental illnesses who are sentenced to traditional forms of supervision often return to jail or prison.  Morris Thigpen, director of the National Institute of Corrections, said, “Probationers with mental illnesses have complex treatment and supervision needs. The Essential Elements provides specific recommendations for responding to these challenges without touting a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. It is relevant for both urban and rural jurisdictions, whether or not they employ specialized caseloads for probationers with mental illness.”  New York State Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, chair of the Council of State Governments Justice Center Board of Directors, added, “To improve success rates among people with mental illness on probation, leaders in the criminal justice system and the mental health community must work in partnership. The Essential Elements should be required reading for policymakers seeking to increase public safety, reduce expenditures on the criminal justice system and help people with mental illnesses.” Download the report for free at <a href="http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/probation-essential-elements" target="_blank">http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/probation-essential-elements</a> or <a href="http://www.nicic.gov/" target="_blank">www.nicic.gov</a>. It was produced under cooperative agreements (07HI03GJP4 and 08HI06GJVO) for the National Institute of Corrections. Additional resources can be found at <a href="http://www.consensusproject.org/" target="_blank">www.consensusproject.org</a>. A limited number of hard copies will be available after October 15 and can be pre-ordered at <a href="mailto:asknicic@nicic.gov">asknicic@nicic.gov</a> or by calling 1.800.995.6429, option #4 (Publication accession number 024023). Press Releases 36384

2009-10-08

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--- [] The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center announced today its launch of the National Reentry Resource Center—an unprecedented initiative to advance the safe and successful return of individuals from prisons and jails to their communities. The announcement can be downloaded from the <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/media/press_releases">Justice Center website</a>. Press Releases 5593

2009-07-01

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center released today Mental Health Courts: A Primer for Policymakers and Practitioners. The Primer was unveiled at the Philadelphia policy forum of the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, through which state Supreme Court chief justices receive support as they establish statewide task forces to improve the response to people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. New: CSG Justice Center's Mental Health Court Primer New York - The <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org">Council of State Governments Justice Center</a> released today Mental Health Courts: A Primer for Policymakers and Practitioners. The Primer was unveiled at the Philadelphia policy forum of the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, through which state Supreme Court chief justices receive support as they establish statewide task forces to improve the response to people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. Mental health courts are one of many issues the collaborative task forces are considering as they develop strategic plans for the coming year. The Primer provides the field with its first comprehensive introduction to this increasingly popular specialty court model, which connects individuals with mental illnesses to treatment services while under court supervision. The publication - supported by the <a href="http://www.ojp.gov/bja">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - presents an overview and history of mental health courts. It describes mental health courts' goals and processes, how they differ from drug courts, research findings about their effectiveness, and resources for jurisdictions interested in starting a program. The Primer complements a recent Justice Center publication, Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Mental Health Court. For the full press release and information on accessing free copies of both publications, click <a href="http://www.justicecenter.csg.org/media/press_releases">here</a>. Press Releases 9155 Law Enforcement

2009-07-01

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of The Law Enforcement Response to People with Mental Illnesses: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice. The guide examines studies on law enforcement interactions with people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners develop safe and effective interventions. Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, it reviews research on the scope and nature of the problem and on a range of law enforcement responses. The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of Law Enforcement Response to People with Mental Illnesses: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice. The guide examines studies on law enforcement interactions with people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners develop safe and effective interventions. Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, it reviews research on the scope and nature of the problem and on a range of law enforcement responses. "Understanding how law enforcement officers engage people with mental illnesses is an issue of national importance. These interactions are often time-consuming, difficult to resolve, and, can result in tragic outcomes, said Justice Center Board Member and Mesa, Arizona, Police Chief George Gascón. This guide will help law enforcement and policymakers better understand these encounters and the specialized responses, which research suggests may lead to more positive results for all involved." Research findings show that law enforcement encounters with people with mental illnesses <ul> <li>are often more time-consuming than other calls for service,</li> <li>require officers to have special training and skills,</li> <li>may be shaped by available community mental health resources,</li> <li>typically involve repeat contact with the same people who have unmet mental health needs,</li> <li>often are in response to a complaint of nuisance behavior, </li> <li>occasionally involve volatile situations that risk the safety of all involved.</li> </ul> The guide asserts that specialized responses such as crisis intervention teams, co-response teams, and other police-based efforts show great promise for increasing public safety, reducing repeat calls for service, and better serving people with mental illnesses. Yet policymakers and planners generally implement these initiatives without the benefit of research and data to guide program development for their community. This guide is meant to provide that foundation. The Guide was produced under Grant No. 05-82376-000-HCD for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A limited number of hard copies can be ordered through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at <a href="http://www.ncjrs.gov" target="_blank">www.ncjrs.gov</a> or by calling 800-851-3420 (international: 301-519-5500;TTY: 301-947-8374). Press Releases 5609

2009-07-01

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--- [] Leaders of the Council of State Governments Justice Center laud Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act (MIOTCRRIA), H.R. 3992, on January 23. CSG Justice Center Board Commends U.S. House Members for Passage of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act Leaders of the Council of State Governments Justice Center laud Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act (MIOTCRRIA), H.R. 3992, on January 23. The bill, introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), will make a significant commitment to addressing the needs of both the criminal justice system and individuals with mental illnesses who come into contact with it. “The passage of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act illustrates the extraordinary bipartisan consensus that exists among elected officials to increase the accessibility of integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment, and to promote collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health agencies," said Dr. James S. Reinhard, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Mental Health’s Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, and a Justice Center board member. This legislation, which has received strong support in both the House and the Senate, will reauthorize the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA). Enacted in 2004, MIOTCRA created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant Program designed to help states and counties design and implement coordinated efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. Through appropriated funds, the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Department of Justice has awarded 53 communities in 35 states with additional resources to plan and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. The new bill will raise the authorization level of MIOTCRA from $50 million per year to $75 million per year and will extend the authorization through 2013. The bill will also reauthorize the mental health courts grant program, and require a study to be completed on the prevalence of mental illness in prisons and jails. <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h3992ih.txt.pdf" target="_blank">Download the complete bill text (pdf)</a>. "Reauthorizing MIOTCRA will provide much-needed support to states and local governments across the country. Every state is now seeking to design, implement, and expand initiatives that will improve the response to people with mental illnesses in contact with the criminal justice system. Front-line professionals, like corrections and police officers, are telling us that this will increase public safety, reduce state spending, and save lives," said Justice Center board member and Connecticut State Representative Michael Lawlor. “We urge the Senate to take swift action in support of this bill.” For more information on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, <a href="mailto:spaterni@csg.org">contact Sara Paterni</a>. Press Releases 5487

2009-07-01

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--- [] At the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Convention, June 13-16, 2008, the Council of State Governments Justice Center provided a first look at the final version of Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law EnforcementBased Program. The publication is the result of many rounds of rigorous review and describes the 10 important program elements that jurisdictions should consider when planning, implementing or enhancing a specialized law enforcementbased response. <a href="/downloads/le-essentialelements.pdf">Download The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement-Based Program (PDF) for free.</a> CSG Justice Center Releases Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program At the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Convention, June 13-16, 2008, the Council of State Governments Justice Center provided a first look at the final version of Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program. The publication is the result of many rounds of rigorous review and describes the 10 important program elements that jurisdictions should consider when planning, implementing or enhancing a specialized law enforcement–based response. <a href="/downloads/le-essentialelements.pdf" target="_blank">Download The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program (PDF) for free.</a> As a growing number of communities grapple with implementing specialized law enforcement–based programs at the local level, there is an increased demand for more information on the key elements of promising programs. Several communities across the country have tried to identify critical program elements to promote consistency and quality. Until this BJA-supported effort, however, there had been limited debate or agreement at the national level about which elements were essential to successfully implement any specialized law enforcement–based response program—regardless of the specific model. “As our appreciation grows for the important role that law enforcement plays in recognizing individuals in crisis and linking them to treatment, having clear guideposts for effective responses is critical. These essential elements provide that guidance,” said Ron Honberg, the National Director for Policy and Legal Affairs at NAMI. The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program serves as the centerpiece of a series of resources for law enforcement practitioners and their community partners, which BJA has produced as part of the Law Enforcement/Mental Health Partnership Program. This program is coordinated by the CSG Justice Center in partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).  The Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses series includes a collection of resources that will complement the Essential Elements: a practical handbook on implementing effective training strategies; a monograph on tailoring law enforcement responses to the unique needs of a jurisdiction, which will include specific examples from the field; and web-based information on statewide efforts to coordinate these law enforcement responses. Also available is an online database, the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Information Network, which includes profiles of local law enforcement responses to people with mental illnesses. The Essential Elements of a Specialized Law Enforcement–Based Program and additional resources for law enforcement professionals and community partners can be found on the <a href="/issue-areas/law-enforcement">Consensus Project Law Enforcement webpage</a>. Press Releases 5643

2009-07-01

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--- [] Last month, the Justice Center, with support from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice, worked with Virginia state officials to convene a group of victim advocates, department of mental health staff, legislative staff, and others to discuss responses to victims of crimes committed by people with mental illnesses. This meeting, the first of its kind that has been convened in Virginia at the state level, followed a meeting that Justice Center and Kansas officials organized in May on this topic. Justice Center and State Officials Convene Meetings in Virginia and Kansas to Discuss Responses to Victims of Crimes Committed by People with Mental Illnesses Last month, the Justice Center, with support from the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/">Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)</a>, U.S. Department of Justice, worked with Virginia state officials to convene a group of victim advocates, department of mental health staff, legislative staff, and others to discuss responses to victims of crimes committed by people with mental illnesses. This meeting, the first of its kind that has been convened in Virginia at the state level, followed a meeting that Justice Center and Kansas officials organized in May on this topic. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss strategies for protecting victims’ rights in cases in which individuals who commit crimes are transferred to the custody of state mental health systems because they have been found not guilty by reason of insanity or require treatment to restore their competency to stand trial. There is often confusion about what types of information victims can access in these cases given confidentiality regulations related to mental health treatment. Consequently, these victims may not be notified or be allowed to participate in their case in ways they would have if the person who committed the crime had been sent to jail or prison. Dr. James Reinhard, Commissioner of the <a href="http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/">Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS)</a>, underscored a number of important reasons for those working within departments of mental health to consider this issue. “Good clinicians know that working with an individual to help them understand the impact that any crime has had on victims is an important part of treatment, recovery and successful community integration,” he said. “Also, by focusing on issues related to crime victims, we improve the ability of mental health systems to deliver trauma-informed care to clients who have previously been victimized.” The Justice Center organized the meeting in Virginia with DMHMRSAS and the <a href="http://www.vanetwork.org/">Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, Inc.</a>, a state association that offers training and materials to victim advocates and victims. During the meeting in Kansas, which was convened with the <a href="http://www.ksag.org/home/">Kansas Attorney General’s Office</a> and the <a href="http://www.srskansas.org/">Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services</a> (SRS), participants touched upon similar themes. Attendees, including State Rep. Pat Colloton (R-KS), SRS Deputy Secretary Ray Dalton, Forensic Services Coordinator Leslie Huss, victim advocates, prosecutors, and others, discussed opportunities to increase awareness about this issue at upcoming trainings and conferences, and methods to ensure that victims have access to public information about changes in the status of cases, such as notices of conditional release hearings filed with the courts. “This is an issue we are committed to exploring further in Kansas in partnership with mental health and criminal justice leaders, recognizing that improving responses to this group of victims will entail ongoing cross-training and collaboration among prosecutors, mental health staff, victim advocates, and victims,” said Rep. Colloton. Dr. Rick Gowdy, Director of Forensic Services for the <a href="http://www.dmh.missouri.gov/">Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH)</a>, also presented at the Kansas meeting, detailing steps taken in Missouri to formalize how victims are identified and notified by the DMH about particular changes in cases involving individuals found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Dr. Gowdy served as a member of the planning group on a forthcoming OVC and Justice Center publication Responding to People Who Have Been Victimized by Individuals with Mental Illnesses. Responding, which will be released this summer, highlights challenges to serving this group of victims and also proposes policies and practices for criminal justice and mental health officials to consider implementing to improve responses to this group of crime victims. For more information on the Justice Center’s work on victims’ rights issues, please see the Justice Center’s <a href="/issue-areas/victims">Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project</a> website, or contact Elizabeth Dodd at <a href="mailto:edodd@csg.org">edodd@csg.org</a> or (646) 383-5749. Press Releases 5619

2009-07-01

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center recently published two guides on the rights of individuals who have been victimized by people with mental illnesses - the first ever national publications on this topic. Both were supported by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice Justice Center Releases First National Publications on Victims of Crimes Committed by People with Mental Illnesses The Council of State Governments Justice Center recently published two guides on the rights of individuals who have been victimized by people with mental illnesses - the first ever national publications on this topic. Both were supported by the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/">Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice</a>. The first, Responding to People Who Have Been Victimized by Individuals with Mental Illnesses, details steps policymakers, advocates, and mental health professionals can take to understand and protect the rights and safety of these crime victims. When individuals accused of a crime are found “not guilty by reason of insanity” or are court-ordered to receive treatment in a mental health facility, their victims may not receive the same rights to notification and participation as other victims in the criminal justice system. After these individuals are transferred to mental health facilities, criminal justice professionals may not be able to assist victims because they no longer have direct access to relevant case information. Mental health system workers, on the other hand, often lack clear legal authority and direction on who is responsible for serving these victims. They also must comply with strict confidentiality regulations related to the accused receiving treatment in a mental health facility. “We used a draft of this guide in a meeting of officials statewide to educate better both mental health and criminal justice officials on improving responses to victims of people who have mental illnesses, ” said Justice Center board member and State Rep. Pat Colloton (R-Kan.). “Though states don’t always know how many victims are affected by a defendant’s transfer to a mental health facility, we do know that the impact of denying them access to information during release and other proceedings can be tremendous.” <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/files/Responding_press_release_fin_OVC.pdf">Click here</a> to read the full press release on Responding to People Who Have Been Victimized by Individuals with Mental Illnesses. The second report, A Guide to the Role of Crime Victims in Mental Health Courts, is the first national publication to offer practical recommendations to mental health court practitioners about how to engage crime victims in case proceedings. The rights that are due victims in criminal court proceedings are not always made available to individuals who are victimized by people accepted into mental health courtsowing largely to confusion about how to involve victims at various points in the mental health court process given the nontraditional operations of these courts and medical privacy regulations that limit the extent of information about participants that can be shared. While policymakers, advocates, and mental health court staff recognize the importance of victims’ rights policies, few mental health court programs have adopted formal procedures related to victims. “There are a growing number of mental health courts in the country handling cases that involve victims - and they deserve the same rights and protections as victims in traditional criminal courts,” said Justice Center board member and State Sen. Liane Sorenson (R-Del.). “This guide helps mental health courts put formal procedures in place that benefit victims, particularly those who are family members of participants.” <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/files/victims_in_MH_Cts_release_fin.pdf">Click here</a> to read the full press release on A Guide to the Role of Crime Victims in Mental Health Courts. To download free copies of either guide, <a href="/issue-areas/victims/vpmi"> click here</a>. Press Releases 5374

2009-07-01

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--- [] The Justice Center has announced that Delaware, Idaho, New Hampshire and Wisconsin will participate in the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a national project in its second year designed to assist state supreme court chief justices in developing strategic plans to improve responses to people with mental illnesses involved in the justice system. Justice Center Selects Four Chief Justices to Participate in National Criminal Justice/Mental Health Initiative The Justice Center has announced that Delaware, Idaho, New Hampshire and Wisconsin will participate in the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a national project in its second year designed to assist state supreme court chief justices in developing strategic plans to improve responses to people with mental illnesses involved in the justice system. Chief justices from 13 states submitted applications for the initiative. Over the next year, the four chief justices selected will convene task forces of state leaders to examine ways to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses engaged with the criminal justice system. These task forces will receive funding and technical assistance from the CSG Justice Center and the <a href="http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/">National GAINS Center</a>, which works with the Justice Center to coordinate the initiative. The task forces will also participate in a CSG Justice Centerconvened policy forum with their counterparts from the other three states. “Each state’s chief justice has demonstrated a commitment to addressing the needs of people with mental illnesses, and we are pleased to be able to invite these states to participate,” said Judge Steven Leifman, Special Advisor on Criminal Justice/Mental Health to the Florida Supreme Court and co-chair of the advisory board that reviewed the submissions. “The application process was very competitive, and we are confident that all four task forces will design and implement successful strategies.” According to a 2006 report by the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/">U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics</a>, nearly a quarter of both state prisoners and jail inmates who reported they had a mental health problem had served three or more prior incarcerations. The frequency with which people with mental illnesses cycle through the criminal justice system remains a major concern nationally, and states across the country are trying to find ways to prevent the unfavorable outcomes associated with this repeated involvement. “To address this complex issue, there must be extensive collaboration among a state’s systems. The chief justice is often uniquely positioned to convene key leaders to develop bipartisan, coordinated strategies,” said Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Justice Center board chair Sharon Keller. “I look forward to seeing what these four task forces will accomplish in the coming year.” In 2007, seven chief justices participated in the initiative, which was designed in collaboration with the Conference of Chief Justices, and many of these states have succeeded in sparking significant policy change. For more information on the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, <a href="/JLI/">click here</a> or contact Lauren Almquist at (646) 383-5743 or <a href="mailto:lalmquist@csg.org">lalmquist@csg.org</a>. The support to the state task forces is made possible through grants from the <a href="http://www.jehtfoundation.org/">JEHT Foundation</a> and the <a href="http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/main.asp?id=51">Conrad N. Hilton Foundation</a>. Funding for the planning phases of this project was provided by the <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/">U.S. Justice Department</a>, <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, and the <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>, <a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a>. Press Releases 5610

2009-07-01

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--- [] On September 26, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304. The bill is expected to be taken up in the House this weekend for final approval and then be sent to the President for his signature.S. 2304 reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for an additional five years at $50 million per year. The bill also expands training for law enforcement to identify and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illnesses and supports the development of law enforcement receiving centers to assess individuals in custody for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. MIOTCRA, PL 108-414, created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant Program (JMHCP) in 2004 to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. Senate Passes the Reauthorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act On September 26, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304. The bill is expected to be taken up in the House this weekend for final approval and then be sent to the President for his signature. S. 2304 reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for an additional five years at $50 million per year. The bill also expands training for law enforcement to identify and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illnesses and supports the development of law enforcement receiving centers to assess individuals in custody for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. MIOTCRA, PL 108-414, created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant Program (JMHCP) in 2004 to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. “Senator Kennedy understands that far too often individuals are arrested and subjected to the criminal justice system, when what they really need is treatment and support to overcome mental illness or substance abuse disorders. His bipartisan bill provides strong federal support for helping local communities address this crisis and improve treatment outcomes for mentally ill offenders,” said Anthony Coley, spokesman for Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA). “He commends Senator Domenici for his leadership on this bill and on so many other initiatives to improve our nation's mental health system. He also welcomes the leadership of Representatives Bobby Scott and Randy Forbes on this needed legislation.” People with mental illnesses are overrepresented in all parts of the criminal justice system -- in their contact with law enforcement, in the courts, in jails and prisons, and in parole and probation caseloads across the country. Prevalence estimates of serious mental illnesses in correctional facilities range from 7 to 16 percent, or rates four times higher for men and eight times higher for women than found in the general population. The U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that the prevalence of youth with mental disorders in juvenile justice facilities is even higher. In many cases, these individuals are not violent criminals, but rather low-level offenders. In addition, it typically costs far more to treat individuals with serious mental illnesses in jail or prison than it does in community-based settings. “I have witnessed the challenges associated with mentally ill offenders who are part of the criminal justice system, and I believe resources are necessary to help local law enforcement and the judicial system implement appropriate measures to address these offenders,” said Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), “Senator Kennedy worked hard to get this bill moving, and I am pleased the Senate has approved it.” The JMHCP program provides assistance to states and communities to develop new programs or expand existing programs that can both reduce costs and help individuals with mental illnesses in contact with the criminal justice system return to productive lives. The program has helped states and local governments implement and expand mental health courts, law enforcement training, mental health and substance abuse treatment for incarcerated mentally ill offenders, community reentry services, and cross-training of criminal justice and mental health personnel. The Council of State Governments <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/">Justice Center</a> coordinates the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project, an unprecedented, national effort to help local, state, and federal policymakers and criminal justice and mental health professionals improve the response to people with mental illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice system. For more information on the reauthorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, contact <a href="mailto:lkane@csg.org">Leah Kane</a>. Press Releases 5650

2009-07-01

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--- [] On September 29, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent late last week and will now proceed to the President's desk for signature. Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Bill Headed to President's Desk On September 29, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent late last week and will now proceed to the President's desk for signature. “I am pleased to see S. 2304, the Mentally Ill Offender and Crime Reduction Act of 2008 pass into law, and would like to thank Senator Kennedy and Senator Domenici, and their staffs, for their hard work and dedication to getting this legislation passed,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA). “Unfortunately, far too many people end up in our local jails and prisons as a result of mental illness, despite the fact that they are generally ill-equipped to handle such individuals and provide either the services they need, or for alternative care settings, in a cost effective manner. S. 2304 reauthorizes training and service programs to assist local and state law enforcement officials, and other entities, to provide treatment for people with mental illnesses while incarcerated, or in alternative settings, as appropriate. This bill is similar to H.R. 3992, a bi-partisan bill of which I was the chief sponsor, that passed the House last year.” S. 2304 reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for an additional five years at $50 million per year. The bill also expands training for law enforcement to identify and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illnesses and supports the development of law enforcement receiving centers to assess individuals in custody for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. MIOTCRA, PL 108-414, created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) in 2004 to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. For more information about S. 2304, please view the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/publications/MIOTCRA_fact_sheet;file">fact sheet</a>. “I am grateful Congress passed this much-needed legislation, which will make our communities safer by treating the source of much criminal behavior - mental illness and addiction,”said Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN). To date, 75 JMHCP grants have been awarded to communities across the country. The Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project, a project of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, provides a variety of resources for state and local organizations interested in applying for JMHCP grants. For more information about the program, future grant applications, and profiles of prior recipients, please visit <a href="/jmhcp">http://consensusproject.org/jmhcp/</a>. For more information on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, contact <a href="mailto:lkane@csg.org">Leah Kane</a>. <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/">The Council of State Governments Justice Center</a> is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies - informed by available evidence - to increase public safety and strengthen communities. Press Releases 5624

2009-07-01

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of <a href="/downloads/community.corrections.research.guide.pdf">Improving Outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses under Community Corrections Supervision: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice</a>, which was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice. The Guide reviews the body of recent research on community corrections supervision for people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help officials develop effective interventions. Martha Plotkin: (240) 482-8579 <a href="mailto:mplotkin@csg.org">mplotkin@csg.org</a> Seth Prins: (646) 383-5729 <a href="mailto:sprins@csg.org">sprins@csg.org</a> March 31, 2009 New York—The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today the release of <a href="/downloads/community.corrections.research.guide.pdf">Improving Outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses under Community Corrections Supervision: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice</a>, which was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice. The Guide reviews the body of recent research on community corrections supervision for people with mental illnesses and translates the findings to help officials develop effective interventions. The number of people under community corrections supervision is at an all-time high nationwide—a March 2009 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts' Public Safety Performance Project confirms that more than 1 in 45 adults are on probation or parole. Based on other recent prevalence studies, the Guide indicates that an unprecedented number of these individuals have serious mental illnesses. These individuals are more likely than others to have their community sentences revoked, return to jail or prison, and become more deeply involved in the criminal justice system. This first-of-its-kind guide helps program planners and policymakers apply research on promising practices to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses under community corrections supervision. “More than 1.5 million people released from jail each year have serious mental illnesses and many will require special supervision strategies and treatments to safely and successfully rejoin their communities,” said Nevada Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, the specialty courts coordinator of the state's Second Judicial District and Justice Center board member. “State lawmakers in Nevada, as is the case everywhere, are concerned about the costs and public safety issues associated with high probation and parole revocation rates among people with mental illnesses. In particular, we need to improve how this population is supervised, and this report highlights the research we should use to inform state policy and funding decisions.” The Guide indicates that community corrections and mental health officials are increasingly aware that they are serving the same individuals without positive effect. It explores the extent to which people with mental illnesses become involved in the community corrections system, and why traditional supervision and treatment strategies are not generally effective for this population. It also summarizes evidence-based and promising programs, strategies, and techniques to improve results for the justice system and people with mental illnesses. The Guide discusses how the current body of knowledge can help shape agency operations, program design and implementation. Research questions that should be investigated further to expand the evidence base are also identified. “Community corrections agencies and mental health treatment providers are trying to figure out the best ways to coordinate or integrate their efforts to better serve people with mental illnesses and tailor new programs in ways that reduce recidivism and encourage recovery,” said Morris Thigpen, Director of the National Institute of Corrections. “The Guide is an exciting new resource for two systems that are coming together around commonly defined goals to tackle these challenges.” Click <a href="/downloads/community.corrections.research.guide.pdf">here</a> to download the Guide for free. It was produced under Grant No. 05-82376-000-HCD for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and by cooperative agreement number 07HI03GJP4 for the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice. Additional resources can be found at <a href="">www.consensusproject.org</a>. A limited number of hard copies are available at <a href="http://www.nicic.gov/">www.nicic.gov</a> or by calling the NIC Information Center at 1.800.995.6429, option #4 (Publication accession number 023634). Press Releases 9119

2009-06-19

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--- [] WASHINGTON (June 1, 2009) - A new study released today of more than 20,000 men and women entering jail offers the most accurate accounting in more than two decades of the number of adults with serious mental illnesses in these facilities. Using screening instruments to identify individuals entering jails with the most serious mental illnesses and the greatest need for comprehensive and continuous treatment, a team of researchers from the nonpartisan Council of State Governments Justice Center and Policy Research Associates found that 14.5 percent of males and 31 percent of females - or 16.9 percent overall - met that criteria. The percentage of women with serious mental illnesses in jail is double that of men - a particularly troubling finding given the overall growth in the female jail population and the lack of research on the reasons for this overrepresentation. These estimates are three to six times higher than the general population, and indicate that as many as 2 million bookings of people with serious mental illnesses may occur each year. The findings, published today in the journal Psychiatric Services, underscore the challenges faced by jail administrators to address the needs of individuals with mental illnesses in the face of budget cuts and extremely limited resources. Press Releases 5623

2009-06-28

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--- [] On November 14, Chief Justice Fred Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court hosted an unprecedented forum among state leaders to unveil a plan to improve the state's mental health system and to better coordinate services provided to people with mental illnesses, including those involved with the criminal justice system. The plan unveiled at the event is part of the work undertaken by Florida's Chief Justice-led task force, one of seven such statewide task forces convened by the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the National GAINS/TAPA Center to improve responses to people with mental illnesses involved with the criminal justice system. Florida Chief Justice Hosts Landmark Summit on Mental Health, Other Chief Justice Task Forces Continue to Make Progress On November 14, Chief Justice Fred Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court hosted an unprecedented forum among state leaders to unveil a plan to improve the state's mental health system and to better coordinate services provided to people with mental illnesses, including those involved with the criminal justice system. The plan unveiled at the event is part of the work undertaken by Florida's Chief Justice-led task force, one of seven such statewide task forces convened by the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the <a href="http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/" target="_blank">National GAINS/TAPA Center</a> to improve responses to people with mental illnesses involved with the criminal justice system. <a href="http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/documents/pressreleases/2007/11-12-2007_MentalHealthSummit.pdf" target="_blank"> (View a pdf of the Supreme Court press release here.)</a> Governor Crist spoke at the event: "We have a responsibility to support and care for the most vulnerable among us, and at the same time, ensure the safety of our communities while also being good stewards of taxpayer dollars." The plan detailed in the report, Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System, recommends the development of a strategy to reduce the state's dependence on state forensic mental health beds and to reinvest millions of state dollars currently spent on those beds in community-based mental health treatment. In 2006, Florida ranked 12th in the country in spending for forensic mental health services, and since then, spending has dramatically increased, with $16 million in emergency funding and $48 million in annual funding added in the past year. Conversely, Florida ranks 48th nationally in terms of overall per capital public mental health spending. <a href="http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/documents/11-14-2007_Mental_Health_Report.pdf" target="_blank"> (Download a pdf of the report here.)</a> Key Florida agency heads, including Secretary Bob Butterworth of the Department of Children and Families, Secretary James McDonough of the Department of Corrections, and Secretary Walt McNeil of the Department of Juvenile Justice, attended the summit. State Senator Stephen Wise, a member of the Justice Center Board of Directors and chairman of the Committee on Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations, also attended. The event generated extensive media coverage, and numerous newspapers issued editorials in support of the report's findings, available on the <a href="http://www.cjmh-infonet.org/main/search?pst=data_type&reset=1&data_type=Media&category=&state=FL" target="_blank">Criminal Justice/Mental Health InfoNet</a>. Chief Justice Lewis assigned Judge Steve Leifman as the Supreme Court's Special Advisor on Criminal Justice and Mental Health to manage the day-to-day operations of the task force, and Judge Leifman delivered the report's findings and recommendations at the forum on November 14. Leifman also serves as the co-chair of the national Chief Justices' Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative, which the Justice Center coordinates in partnership with the GAINS Center. Chief justices in six other states were also selected to participate in the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative and receive funding support and technical support from the Justice Center and the GAINS Center. The chief justices in these states, California, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Vermont, have convened task forces to develop strategies to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses in the justice system across the state. Hon. Sharon Keller, the highest ranking jurist in the Texas criminal court system (and vice chair of the Justice Center Board) has led that state's task force, which played a pivotal role in the enactment of legislation this year that facilitated information-sharing among criminal justice and mental health agencies. Funding has already been designated to implement the new law, which will allow authorized jail and court personnel to determine immediately whether individuals brought before them have had prior contact with the mental health system and whether they should undergo further assessment. The Texas task force is also in the process of developing a model tracking form to standardize the information jails pass along to courts. This tracking form will be tested in several jurisdictions in 2008 and if found to be effective, distributed across the state. Nevada's task force has developed a proposal for three pilot reentry mental health courts to address recent changes to parole regulations. In September, Chief Justice William Maupin appeared before the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee to describe the plan, which will help individuals with mental illnesses approved for parole transition into the community with adequate supervision and connection to services. In January, the task force will formally submit the proposal and has already begun to explore service capacity issues. In addition, the task force is planning two statewide educational symposia on criminal justice/mental health issues for 2008. Court leaders in the remaining four states have not yet finalized their strategic plans but continue to convene their task forces and explore a number of strategies. Georgia has created four working groups to develop a standardized jail screening tool for the state, expand a crisis hotline that will direct people to local services, and explore a number of juvenile issues and potential statutory changes. Vermont’s task force has also made remarkable progress through a series of monthly meetings and has decided to focus on pre-sentencing issues. The seven states participating in the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative were selected in early 2007 from among 23 applicants. The chief justices and key task force members attended a national policy forum in April and have worked closely with Justice Center and GAINS Center staff to develop strategies to address criminal justice/mental health issues. The Justice Center, together with the GAINS Center, anticipates the release of updates on the initiative in the coming months, describing how chief justices in other states can become involved. The Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative is made possible by funding support from the <a href="http://www.jehtfoundation.org/" target="_blank">JEHT Foundation</a> and <a href="http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Conrad N. Hilton Foundation</a>. Press Releases 5592

2009-06-28

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--- [] On November 13, 2007 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Second Chance Act of 2007, H.R. 1593—a bill that will increase the likelihood that people’s transition from prisons and jails to the community is safe and successful. The bill, introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) received broad bipartisan support, passing the House 347-62. U.S. House Passes the Second Chance Act on Prisoner Reentry On November 13, 2007 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Second Chance Act of 2007, H.R. 1593—a bill that will increase the likelihood that people’s transition from prisons and jails to the community is safe and successful. The bill, introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) received broad bipartisan support, passing the House 347-62. Leaders of the Council of State Governments Justice Center commended Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bill. "The Second Chance Act's goals and provisions support the kinds of policy changes and programs that the Justice Center's federally funded Re-entry Policy Council Report recommends to lower recidivism rates," said Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, Justice Center board member and chair of the New York State Assembly Correction Committee. “We urge the Senate to take swift action in support of this bill.” The House bill authorizes up to $55 million dollars in grants to state and local governments to develop reentry initiatives to help keep people released from prisons and jails from recidivating, including projects that seek to connect people coming out of prisons or jails with mental health services. “The passage of the Second Chance Act illustrates the extraordinary bipartisan consensus that exists among elected officials that we need to reduce the rates at which people return to prison after they're released," said Rep. Davis. Approximately 95 percent of all state prisoners will be released. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), half will return to prison within three years and even more will be re-arrested. Incarcerated individuals with mental illnesses stay incarcerated even longer than the general corrections population and are more likely to recidivate--often soon after their release. In part, recidivism rates are driving the continued growth of prison and jail populations across the country and associated costs. As of 2004, national spending on local, state, and federal corrections totaled $61 billion. That figure is poised to increase; a recent report from The Pew Charitable Trusts stated that if current federal, state, and local policies and practices do not change, taxpayers are expected to pay as much as $27.5 billion on prisons alone over the next five years on top of current corrections spending. "Enacting the Second Chance Act and funding the programs it authorizes will enable us to save taxpayer dollars, increase public safety, strengthen families, and make sure the gates to our prisons are not just revolving doors," said Rep. Cannon. For more information on the Second Chance Act, please contact <a href="mailto:spaterni@csg.org">Sara Paterni</a>. To view resources on the Second Chance Act, please visit the <a href="http://www.reentrypolicy.org/government_affairs/second_chance_act" target="newwindow">Reentry Policy Council website</a>. Press Releases 5627

2009-06-28

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--- [] On November 7, 2007, just a week after the introduction of the bill, members of the full House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3992, the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act. The bill will now be sent to the House floor for consideration, which sponsors say could take place later this month. The Senate sponsors intend to move the companion bill, S. 2304, before Congress breaks for recess. House Judiciary Committee Oks the Reauthorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act On November 7, 2007, just a week after the introduction of the bill, members of the full House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3992, the <a href="/resources/government-affairs/fed-leg-MIOTCRA/fed-leg-MIOTCRA-factsheets">Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act</a>. The bill will now be sent to the House floor for consideration, which sponsors say could take place later this month. The Senate sponsors intend to move the companion bill, S. 2304, before Congress breaks for recess. During the mark-up of the bill, lead sponsors Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Randy Forbes (R-VA) spoke about the need for continued collaboration between criminal justice and mental health agencies. The bill will make a significant commitment to addressing the needs of both the criminal justice system and individuals with mental illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It offers grants to communities to develop diversion programs, mental health treatments in jails and prisons, and transition and after-care services to facilitate reentry into the community. "I am pleased to be the lead cosponsor of a bi-cameral, bi-partisan legislation," Representative Scott said. "The MIOTCRA will not only provide for appropriate responses to mentally ill offenders, but save localities money in avoided jail and prison costs." With bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, the legislation will raise the authorization level of MIOTCRA from $50 million per year to $75 million per year and will extend the authorization through 2013. The bill will also reauthorize the Mental Health Courts grant program, (Public Law 106-515) and require a study to be completed on the prevalence of mental illness in prisons and jails. For more information on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Reduction Act, contact <a href="mailto:lkane@csg.org">Leah Kane</a>. Press Releases 5657

2009-06-28

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--- [] Last week U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Arlen Specter (R-PA), and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Randy Forbes (R-VA) introduced the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act. Congress Introduces the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act Last week U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Arlen Specter (R-PA), and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Randy Forbes (R-VA) introduced the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act. This legislation, which has received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, will reauthorize the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act or MIOTCRA (Public Law 108-414). Enacted in 2004, MIOTCRA created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant Program (JMHCP) designed to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. Through appropriated funds, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Department of Justice has awarded 53 communities in 35 states with additional resources to plan and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. "Far too often, mentally ill individuals encounter the criminal justice system when what is really needed is treatment and support&" Senator Kennedy said. "With this bill, Congress can provide significant support to improve and expand cooperation between law enforcement and mental health experts in order to improve our nation's public safety." This new bill will raise the authorization level of MIOTCRA from $50 million per year to $75 million per year and will extend the authorization through 2013. The bill will also reauthorize the Mental Health Courts grant program (Public Law 106-515), and require that a study be completed on the prevalence of mental illness in prisons and jails. <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h3992ih.txt.pdf" target="_blank">Download the complete bill text (pdf).</a> "This legislation will impact states across the United States, including Virginia where sixteen percent of all inmates in Virginia jails are estimated to have a mental illness. We have a significant way to go in Virginia to better diagnose and treat mental illnesses in our jails and this legislation is a step in the right direction," said Rep. Forbes. "I am pleased that Congressman Scott and I could join together and introduce legislation that will have a much-needed impact on our criminal justice system and make our communities safer." The bill, which is scheduled for consideration in the full House Judiciary Committee on November 7, 2007, passed the Crime Subcommittee on November 1. The Senate sponsors intend to move the bill before Congress breaks for recess. Press Releases 5649

2009-06-28

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--- [] The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with the National GAINS/TAPA Center, has announced a new national project that supports chief justices who have established statewide task forces to improve the response to people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. The Chief Justices' Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative is the first project of its kind, and it kicked off with a two-day policy forum on Monday, April 30, in Atlanta. CSG Justice Center Brings States' Chief Justices Together to Improve Criminal Justice Response to People with Mental Illnesses The <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/" target="_blank">Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center</a>, in partnership with the <a href="http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/" target="_blank">National GAINS/TAPA Center</a>, has announced a new national project that supports chief justices who have established statewide task forces to improve the response to people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. The <a href="/JLI/info/jli_announce/updates-JLI/ChiefJustice_taskforce" target="_blank">Chief Justices' Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative</a> is the first project of its kind, and it kicked off with a two-day policy forum on Monday, April 30, in Atlanta. "Improving outcomes for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system requires extensive collaboration among leaders in the judiciary, the legislature, and the administrators of multiple state agencies," said Massachusetts Rep. Mike Festa, Chair of the CSG Justice Center Board of Directors. "We established this initiative because in many states, the supreme court's chief justice is uniquely positioned to convene and lead a multi-branch discussion on this issue that results in meaningful action." Increasingly, people with mental illnesses are becoming familiar faces in our courtrooms and filling our prisons and jails. It is difficult to overstate the impact of this trend on people's lives, public safety, the administration of the justice system, as well as taxpayers and state budgets. According to a 2006 report by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly a quarter of both state prisoners and jail inmates who reported having a mental health problem had served three or more prior sentences. The CSG Justice Center solicited applications from chief justices from across the country interested in addressing complex criminal justice/mental health issues. Twenty-three states submitted applications for the initiative, of which seven were selected: Georgia, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri, Vermont, and Nevada. These states will receive technical assistance, access to leading national experts, modest funding support, and a place at this national forum. Evelyn Stratton, Associate Justice of the Ohio State Supreme Court and co-chair of the advisory board that reviewed the applications said the process was very competitive. "The states selected had to demonstrate that they had engaged legislative and executive branch leaders, and that their task force had the potential to yield a viable, comprehensive plan," she explained. The chief justices and their task forces have a difficult road ahead of them. In Texas, for example, the Criminal Justice Department reports that 30 percent of the people incarcerated have previous contacts with the public mental health system. "The increasing numbers of people with mental illnesses who cycle through our criminal courts cannot continue," said Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Vice Chair of the CSG Justice Center Board of Directors. "The task force I am leading has begun to examine how we can better identify people with mental illnesses and help judges and other professionals to address more effectively their mental health needs and options." The policy forum in Atlanta will help the chief justices get started on leading collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses. The chief justices are accompanied by several high-ranking officials from their states' criminal justice and mental health systems. They will consider a wide range of strategies ranging from how to improve police interactions with people with mental illnesses at the time of arrest to reentry strategies for this population. The task forces will then work to implement these strategies over the next year with help from the CSG Justice Center and the National GAINS/TAPA Center. Press interested in scheduling an interview with Chief Justices who attended the Chief Justices' Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative Policy Forum, contact Lauren Lieberman at 301-379-6202. The CSG Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. The Justice Center provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies-informed by available evidence-to increase public safety and strengthen communities. The National GAINS/TAPA Center is a resource and technical assistance center for state planning and coordination among the mental health, substance abuse, and criminal justice systems. The GAINS Center focuses on the application of science to services and the documentation and promotion of evidence-based and promising practices in program development. The support to the state task forces is made possible through generous grants awarded from the <a href="http://www.jehtfoundation.org/" target="_blank">JEHT Foundation</a> and the <a href="http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Conrad N. Hilton Foundation</a>. Funding support for the planning phases of this project was provided by the U.S. Justice Department's <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/" target="_blank">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'<a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/" target="_blank">Substance Abuse and Mental Health System Administration</a>. Press Releases 5647

2009-06-28

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--- [] On March 27, 2007, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on improving responses to people with mental illnesses who are involved in the criminal justice system. The work of the Consensus Project, coordinated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, was an important resource for committee members and advocates in the planning and preparation of the hearing. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Holds Hearing on Criminal Justice Responses to People with Mental Illnesses On March 27, 2007, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime,Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on improving responses to people with mental illnesses who are involved in the criminal justice system. Witnesses at the hearing included the following: <ul><li>Hon. Steven Leifman, Judge, Criminal Division of Miami-Dade County Court, Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL;</li> <li>Phillip Perry, consumer of mental health services and current participant in the Bonneville Mental Health Court, Idaho Supreme Court, Boise, ID;</li> <li>David G. Gutierrez, Sheriff, Lubbock, TX;</li> <li>Richard Wall, Lieutenant, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles, CA; and</li> <li>Leon Evans, Executive Director Jail Diversion Program, San Antonio, TX. </li></ul> To access witness testimony <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=291" target="newwindow"> click here.</a> "The repeated arrest and incarceration of low-level, nonviolent offenders whose mental health needs are not adequately addressed perpetuates a cycle of criminal justice involvement, diverts attention from more serious crimes, and does not necessarily respond to the underlying causes of the offense" said Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA). "Families suffer the trauma of seeing loved ones arrested and incarcerated, and struggle to provide ongoing and needed support." The work of the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project, coordinated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, was an important resource for committee members and advocates in the planning and preparation of the hearing. "There are many CSG members,project partners, and individuals with whom we have worked for many years on this issue," said Justice Center Board Chair and Massachusetts State Representative Mike Festa. "We are grateful for their help in making this hearing a success and for sharing their experiences and recommendations with us to inform the subcommittee's efforts in improving criminal justice/mental health policies and practices." Witnesses described the problems that their law enforcement, corrections, mental health and myriad other professionals have when addressing the needs of people with mental illnesses. They detailed how current policies and practices are having an enormous impact on costs to taxpayers, the lives of people with mental illnesses, and the administration of the justice system. <table class="image" align="left"> <tr> <td> <img src="/images/hearing.jpg" vspace="10" hspace="20" align="left	" alt="hearing" width="250"/> </td> </tr> <tr align="left"> <td class="caption"> Witnesses testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security </td> </tr> </table> Subcommittee members heard witnesses' consensus that there is a vital need for resources such as the <a href="/resources/government-affairs/fed-leg-MIOTCRA" target="Newwindow">Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA)</a> grants to support local and state efforts. (MIOTCRA, passed in 2004, authorized a $50 million grant program administered through the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/" target="newwindow">Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)</a>, U.S. Department of Justice, to support criminal justice/mental health systems collaborations. To date, BJA has awarded 27 grants to 19 states and will be making another round of awards in the coming months.) Ranking Member Randy Forbes (R-VA) commented, "The Mental Health Collaboration Program increases public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health treatment, and substance abuse systems to increase access to treatment for this unique group of offenders. A mere $5 million dollars has been appropriated for the program in 2006 and the current fiscal year." Chairman Scott inquired about law enforcement contacts that brought people with mental illnesses into the system. He asked about whether funding is primarily needed to start programs within corrections systems for individuals who are incarcerated, or to ensure that mental health treatment services are available in the community. Witnesses emphasized that both were significant issues that required federal support for collaborative responses that are tailored to the unique needs of a particular jurisdiction. In his remarks, Judge Leifman described the overcrowding and lack of adequate treatment for inmates with mental illnesses in the Miami-Dade County jail and noted the fiscal implications. "On any given day, the Miami-Dade County Jail houses between 800 and 1,200 defendants with serious mental illnesses. This represents approximately 20 percent of the total inmate population, and costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually," said Leifman. Phillip Perry, a participant in the Idaho Supreme Court's Bonneville Mental Health Court, has struggled with schizophrenia, drug addiction and frequent stays in hospitals and jails for most of his adult life. He spoke of his progress in the program since his referral in 2005: "This program has changed my life for the best. I feel I can live a sober and relatively mentally stable life because of the tools and skills that the program has taught me." Witnesses also highlighted progress made in their communities to improve responses to people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. "Within the Los Angeles Police Department, we have worked to provide training that field personnel can use to identify clients who are experiencing episodes of mental illness and adjust their approach accordingly, said Lt. Wall in his remarks to the committee. Prior to the hearing, Justice Center Board Vice-Chair Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, submitted letters of support to several Judiciary Committee members including Representatives Smith, Jackson Lee, and Gohmert, to highlight the challenges that judges and other criminal justice professionals face in responding to the high numbers of people with mental illnesses who cycle through the justice system. The Justice Center also submitted a letter to the committee to express the importance of continued congressional support and leadership on this issue. In his closing remarks, Chairman Scott underscored the need for a federal role in addressing the over-representation of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system and for a multi-system response. For more information on the hearing, or MIOTCRA, please contact <a href="mailto:spaterni@csg.org">Sara Paterni</a>. Press Releases 5386

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--- [] On March 5, 2007 the Council of State Governments Justice Center held a briefing in Washington, D.C. on improving responses to people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. The event was cosponsored by the National Alliance for Mental Illness, the National Sheriffs Association, the National Association of Counties and many other national organizations that work on this issue. Justice Center Holds Congressional Staff Briefing on the Criminal Justice System and People with Mental Illnesses On March 5, 2007 the Council of State Governments Justice Center held a briefing in Washington, D.C. on improving responses to people with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. The event was co-sponsored by the <a href="http://www.nami.org/" target="newwindow">National Alliance for Mental Illness</a>, <a href="http://www.sheriffs.org/" target="Newwindow">the National Sheriffs Association</a>, the <a href="http://www.naco.org/" target="Newwindow">National Association of Counties</a>, and many other national organizations that work on this issue. <a href="/downloads/marchmentalhealthbriefing.pdf" target="Newwindow">Click here</a> to view the briefing invitation, which provides the complete list of co-sponsors. Speakers at the briefing included Judge Steven Leifman, Chair, Miami-Dade County Mayor's Mental Health Task Force; Linda Gregory, spouse of a deputy sheriff slain by a person with schizophrenia; and Alice Petree, sister of deceased person with schizophrenia who killed Linda Gregory's husband. <table class="image" align="right"> <tr> <td> <img src="/images/petreeandgregory.jpg" vspace="10" hspace="20" align="center" alt="petreeandgregory" width="250"/> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td class="caption"> Linda Gregory (left) and Alice Petree address a group of Congressional staff and others at a briefing on criminal justice/mental health issues. </td> </tr> </table> Speakers discussed the prevalence of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system, the need for specialized resources within courts, corrections, and law enforcement settings for responding to people with mental illnesses, and efforts in Florida that offer alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illnesses. "Without access to treatment, support services, and housing, people with mental illness will continue to show up in our prisons and jails," said Judge Leifman. "That is why pre-release planning and cross-agency collaboration is vital to the successful re-entry of these individuals into the community." Speakers also emphasized the importance of federal support in this area through legislation like the <a href="/resources/government-affairs/fed-leg-MIOTCRA" target="newwindow">Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA)</a>, which passed in 2004 with unanimous bi-partisan support in both chambers of Congress. This legislation authorized the <a href="/jmhcp/info" target="newwindow">Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program</a> which provides grants to states to plan, implement, and expand collaborations between mental health, criminal justice, juvenile justice, and corrections systems. The program, administered through the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/" target="newwindow">Bureau of Justice Assistance</a>, Department of Justice, received $5 million in FY '06 and FY'07. The FY '08 appropriations process has just begun and Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA), Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), are championing the efforts to secure funding. At the briefing, Elizabeth Griffith, Associate Deputy Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance provided an update on the implementation of the grants in response to inquiries from Congressional staff. To learn more about ongoing appropriations or about MIOTCRA, please contact <a href="mailto:spaterni@csg.org">Sara Paterni</a>. To learn more about the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration program and the Justice Center's work with program grantees, please contact <a href="mailto:nwasarhaley@csg.org">Nesa Wasarhaley</a>. Press Releases 5640

2009-06-28

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--- [] The Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus recently hosted its first ever staff briefing on violence against women with mental illness. Speakers at the briefing provided an overview of the unique challenges that practitioners within criminal justice, mental health, and victim service fields in identifying women with mental illness who have been victimized and providing them with appropriate referrals. Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus Organizes Briefing on Violence Against Women with Mental Illness The <a href="http://poe.house.gov/vrc/index.htm" target="newwindow">Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus</a> recently hosted its first ever staff briefing on violence against women with mental illness. Speakers at the briefing, held February 5, 2007 in Washington, D.C., included Delaware State Senator Liane Sorenson, member of the Council of State Governments Justice Center Charter; Trudy Gregorie, staff member of <a href="http://www.justicesolutions.org/" target="newwindow">Justice Solutions</a>, a victim's rights research non-profit; and Gwendolyn Skinner, Director of the <a href="http://mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-MHDDAD/" target="newwindow">Georgia Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases</a>. Speakers at the briefing provided an overview of the unique challenges that practitioners within criminal justice, mental health, and victim service fields in identifying women with mental illness who have been victimized and providing them with appropriate referrals. All emphasized the critical importance of establishing and then institutionalizing collaboration among representatives from these diverse fields to improve services to these women. "State governments can do more to integrate victim services and mental health services," said Senator Sorenson. "We need to find ways to make with women with mental illness safer, protect their rights as crime victims, and get them the services they need to put them on a path toward recovery." The House Victim's Rights Caucus held the briefing in conjunction with a meeting convened by the Justice Center and chaired by Senator Sorenson on violence against women with mental illness. Attendees of the meeting, which included a group of national experts, policy-makers, and advocates from the victim, service, mental health, and criminal justice fields, offered feedback on a draft policy guide being developed by Justice Center staff. The guide offers recommendations on initiating and developing a cross-system response to women with mental illness who have been victimized. Justice Center staff have been developing the policy guide as a part of a larger project supported by the <a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/" target="newwindow">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a> to address the unmet needs of women with mental illness. The policy recommendations, due out this year, highlight examples of state and local initiatives in which victim and mental health service providers appear to have achieved a significant degree of service integration. The Justice Center is also partnering with the <a href="http://www.nccbh.org/" target="newwindow">National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare</a>, Howie T. Harp Peer Advocacy Center, and <a href="http://www.justicesolutions.org/" target="newwindow">Justice Solutions</a> to develop this guide. <table class="image" align="left"> <tr> <td> <img src="/images/langevin" vspace="10" hspace="20" align="center" alt="langevin" width="250"/> </td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td class="caption"> Rep. Jim Langevin (right) and David Lauterbach of the Kent Center, a Rhode Island mental health agency </td> </tr> </table> After the meeting, several participants also met with members from their Congressional delegation including Rep. Jim Langevin (D - RI) and staff of Sen. Joe Biden (D - DE), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R - GA), and Rep. Jim Costa (D - CA) to discuss violence against women with mental illness. <a href="/issue-areas/victims/vwmi" target="newwindow">Click here</a> for more information on this project or contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org">Hope Glassberg</a>. Press Releases 5634

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--- [] The Council of State Governments Justice Center and National Institute of Corrections (NIC) announced the release of case studies on corrections/mental health initiatives in Kansas and Orange County, Florida. This resource is available for corrections administrators, mental health officials, and others interested in improving the response to people with mental illnesses transitioning from jail or prison to the community. CSG Justice Center and NIC Release New Resource to Promote Corrections/Mental Health Collaboration <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org" target="newwindow">The Council of State Governments Justice Center</a> and <a href="http://www.nicic.org/" target="newwindow">National Institute of Corrections (NIC)</a> announced the release of case studies on corrections/mental health initiatives in Kansas and Orange County, Florida. This resource is available for corrections administrators, mental health officials, and others interested in improving the response to people with mental illnesses transitioning from jail or prison to the community. <ul><li><a href="/downloads/kansas-case-study.pdf" target="newwindow">Click here to download the Kansas case study</a></li> <li><a href="/downloads/orange-county-case-study.pdf" target="newwindow">Click here to download the Orange County, Florida case study</a></li> </ul> In 2004, Kansas and Orange County, Florida were identified as jurisdictions where lessons learned about collaboration between the corrections and mental health systems could be of value to other communities. "Leaders of state and local government will appreciate what the extraordinary collaboration between corrections administrators and mental health officials in Kansas and Orlando has yielded," said NIC Director Morris Thigpen. "The challenges these leaders have faced are familiar to all counties and states whose jails and prisons are housing a growing number of people with mental illnesses." In Kansas, nearly 20 percent of the prison population had significant mental health needs; people with mental illnesses were 67 percent more likely than others to be reincarcerated within six months of their release. The Kansas case study describes how leaders of the Departments of Corrections and Social and Rehabilitation Services collaborated to jointly fund a specialized transition planning program, establish partnerships between the Department of Corrections and specific community mental health service providers, improve data sharing between agencies, and develop and manage specialized mental health parole caseloads. In Orange County, a number of mental illness- and substance abuse-related deaths at the jail prompted sustained media coverage and urgent calls for reform. The Orange County case study describes how these incidents led to the formation of a Jail Oversight Commission, the construction of a central receiving center for individuals with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders who would normally be taken to jail or local emergency rooms, specialized law enforcement response teams, a pre-trial services program; and a post-booking treatment diversion program. "The frank discussions in these documents about the significant obstacles that leaders in Kansas and Orange County continue to face provide valuable lessons for the field," said Dr. James Reinhard, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services and Justice Center charter group member. "The case studies show the importance of developing meaningful collaborations with people who have a shared vision for successfully increasing public safety and improving outcomes for people with mental illnesses." The Council of State Governments Justice Center, coordinator of the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project, is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies, informed by available evidence, to increase public safety and strengthen communities. Please <a href="http://justicecenter.csg.org/about_us/background/" target="newwindow">click here</a> for more information on the Justice Center. Press Releases 5617

2009-06-28

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--- [] Leaders of The Council of State Governments (CSG) Criminal Justice Program appreciate the Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) continuing efforts to study and draw attention to the large numbers of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. The BJS report, Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates, found that more than half of all prison and jail inmates have mental health problems. The issue is of growing concern to state and local government officials. CSG Criminal Justice Leaders Say DOJ Numbers Highlight Need to Improve Response to People with Mental Illnesses Leaders of The Council of State Governments (CSG) Criminal Justice Program appreciate the <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/" target="newwindow">Bureau of Justice Statistics'</a> (BJS) continuing efforts to study and draw attention to the large numbers of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. The BJS report, <a href="http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/mhppji.htm" target="newwindow">Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates</a> , found that more than half of all prison and jail inmates have mental health problems. The issue is of growing concern to state and local government officials. "The BJS report confirms what we hear regularly from the staff on the front lines of our prisons and jails, as well as our court and law enforcement systems: that the number of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system is a growing problem we must address," said state Rep. Ward Loyd, R-Kan., co-chair of CSG's Public Safety and Justice Task Force. "We know there are specialized strategies to address these problems that can reduce the numbers highlighted in the report and increase public safety. Many of these specialized strategies are outlined in the 2002 landmark <a href="/the_report" target="newwindow">Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project report</a> on improving the response to people with mental illnesses who become involved with the criminal justice system. Communities across the country are now successfully using the kinds of collaborative approaches and innovative policies the report promotes including initiatives that help reduce injuries and arrests in law enforcement encounters, enable courts to ensure accountability while meeting individuals needs and help corrections professionals reduce the numbers of individuals with mental illnesses who cycle through prisons and jails. "In June 2006 there were more than 8,000 people on the active mental health caseload in prisons in New York State, which has the fourth largest prison population in the nation, said Public Safety and Justice Task Force co-chair Assemblyman Jeff Aubry, D-N.Y. "This isn't good for public safety, it's not good for the health of our communities, and it's not a good use of taxpayer dollars." "There is broad national support to address the problems highlighted by BJS' report. At the federal level we have seen critical bipartisan leadership around this issue," said CSG Consensus Project Chair State Rep. Mike Lawlor, D-Conn. "The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA), which passed the U.S. House and Senate unanimously under the direction of Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio), and others provides much-needed support to the field." Leaders of CSG's criminal justice program continue to call for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to fund the <a href="/infocenter/news/July06/miotcra-approp" target="newwindow">MIOTCRA program</a> at its authorized level of $50 million ($5 million was appropriated for fiscal year 2006). That amount would enable state and local officials to support collaborative initiatives to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. To view a PDF version of this release <a href="/downloads/csgbjspressrelease.pdf" target="newwindow">click here</a>. <a name="LE"> <div align="left" style="background-color:#CCCCCC; font-family:arial; font-size:13px; padding:5px 

10px 5px 10px; color:#000000;">MEDIA RESOURCES: <li><a href="/downloads/compellingfacts.pdf" target="newwindow">Fact Sheet</a>: Spotlights data related to people with mental illness in the criminal justice system</li> <li><a href="/downloads/cpoverview.pdf" target="newwindow">Consensus Project Overview</a>: Provides a brief description of the various projects that are a part of the CSG-led Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project</li> <li><a href="/the_report" target="newwindow">Consensus Project Report</a>: This landmark 2002 report offers strategies on developing, implementing, and evaluating collaborative approaches to improve the criminal justice system's response to people with mental illness</li> For more information on resources for media, including mental health consumers, national and state representatives from the criminal justice and mental health systems, and legislators, please contact <a href="mailto:hglassberg@csg.org">Hope Glassberg</a>, 646-383-5737, or <a href="mailto:mplotkin@csg.org">Martha Plotkin</a>, 202-577-9344. </div> </a> Press Releases