Justice Center Invites Chief Justices to Participate in Criminal Justice/Mental Health Initiative
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has issued a request for applications from state supreme court chief justices interested in establishing a statewide task force that will work to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system.
Download the project overview and solicitation (pdf).
Through this project, the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative, selected chief justices will receive technical assistance and a small amount of funding support to assist them in convening a collaborative, bipartisan group of state leaders to address criminal justice/mental health issues. Technical assistance will be provided by the Justice Center, with help from the National GAINS Center.
As states continue to struggle with a rising number of people with mental illnesses entering the criminal justice system, chief justices can play a critical role in bringing together different state agencies and branches of government to develop a strategic plan around this issue. Last year, seven chief justices participated in the initiative, from California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Vermont. The chief justice task forces convened in these states have succeeded in raising the visibility of criminal justice/mental health issues, and many have already had a significant impact on state policy.
This initiative is part of the larger Judges’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative (JLI) which provides resources to judges interested in spearheading efforts to improve the criminal justice response to people with mental illnesses. The Advisory Group that guides the JLI will review the applications received (which must be submitted by chief justices or on their behalf) and will help identify three to four states to participate. This project is made possible by funding support from the JEHT Foundation and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Applications must be submitted to Lauren Almquist (lalmquist@csg.org; fax: 212-482-2344) by July 11, 2008. For more details, contact Lauren Almquist at 646-383-5743.
