There are many resources that advocates should leverage in their efforts to address the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. In fact, sometimes it may feel like there are too many, as the volume of reports, Web sites, and organizations working on this issue can be overwhelming. This section explains some of these available resources, but advocates interested in criminal justice and mental health issues should pay particular attention to two initiatives that are directly targeted at this issue: The Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project and the GAINS Center for Evidence-Based Practices.
Though the Consensus Project and GAINS Center are administered separately, the two initiatives are closely coordinated, and advocates should be able to identify the resources they need by contacting either one. Becoming familiar with their Web sites and signing up online for their regular email updates is the best way for advocates to stay abreast of developments in this field. The remainder of this section describes some of the reports, technical assistance, information about promising programs, and funding sources of which advocates should consider making use.
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