February 2010 e-Newsletter

BJA Solicits Applications for FY 2010 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grants

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, has released its fiscal year 2010 solicitation for Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) grant applications. The program was authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA) and promotes coordination among criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health, and substance abuse agencies.

Fiscal Year 2010 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Applicant Webinar

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is pleased to announce its first webinar in the 2010 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Webinar Series, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance: Fiscal Year 2010 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Applicant Webinar.

Spotlight on JMHCP: Judiciary of Guam

Each month the Justice Center spotlights collaborative criminal justice/mental health initiatives that have received funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP). Justice Center staff members ask the practitioners in these programs to discuss some successes and challenges they have encountered in the planning and implementation process. This month's profile is from the Judiciary of Guam, a 2008 Planning and Implementation grantee.

Program Summary
Guam, a United States territory in the Western Pacific, received a JMHCP planning and implementation grant in 2008 to develop a mental health court. The Judiciary of Guam and the Guam Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) collaborated in a planning process that led to the opening of the Guam Mental Health Court (Guam MHC) in May 2009. The Guam MHC targets adult offenders with serious mental illnesses or developmental disabilities who are charged with nonviolent crimes and express interest in treatment. The court provides much-needed structure for, and coordination of, mental health and substance use services in a jurisdiction with limited health care resources.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BJA and OJJDP Release Second Chance Act Solicitation

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the solicitation for Second Chance Act grant applications to state and local governments for adult and juvenile reentry demonstration projects (Section 101). BJA has also released the solicitation for Second Chance Act mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations (Section 211).

Mar 24 Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Public Sector Leaders

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute has announced its certification program, the 2010 Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Public Sector Leaders.

Jun 01 The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference

Save the Date: The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference is being held June 1-3, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Articles from newspapers around the country covering issues at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice can be found on the Consensus Project web site. Some recent headlines from the homepage are posted below.

ABC News Chicago (IL) — Police trained how to handle people with mental illness

1/14/10 — "Thousands of Chicago Police officers have been trained to handle crisis intervention for people with mental illness. This program is essential because there has been a significant increase in mental health crisis calls. "

The Daily Times (NM) — Finding new treatment options: Adult Treatment Court deals with addiction and mental health problems

1/11/10 — The Adult Treatment Court program in San Juan County is helping keep people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders out of jail and in contact with treatment providers.

Intelligencer Journal (PA) — County seeks grants for prison programs

12/23/09 — Lancaster County will be applying to state grants in an aim to implement treatment and diversion programs to curb the number of people who need mental health care cycling in and out of jail.

1360 WCHL (NC) — New mental illness training for local law officers

12/21/09 — For officer receiving special training, "the aim of the training is to provide more options for arresting officers when dealing with people with mental illness, including recommending treatment options rather than imprisonment."

Birmingham Business Journal (AL) — Bessemer Court adds mental health division

12/21/09 — "The Bessemer Probate Court has added a mental health division to serve Western Jefferson County."

Wichita Eagle (KS) — New approach to parole shows signs of success

12/20/09 — New approaches to parole monitoring show success in working with individuals with mental illnesses in contact with the criminal justice system.

WMFD.com (OH) — 16 graduate from CIT team class training

12/18/09 — "The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Richland County and the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board graduated the 12th Crisis Intervention Team Class Friday at the Mansfield Playhouse."

York Daily Record (PA) — Memphis Model makes sense

12/18/09 — "Just recently, the York County Prison provided money to send six representatives to Memphis for specialized training in dealing with suspects with mental illness."

Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) — Court spreads good will

12/16/09 — "The Boone County Mental Health Court was created in 2003 to address the special needs of individuals with mental illnesses who are arrested for nonviolent offenses in an attempt to decriminalize acts stemming from mental illness."

mlive.com (MI) — Muskegon County mental health court gives offenders second chance

12/16/09 — In lieu of a jail sentence, a select group of individuals with mental illnesses and charges of misdemeanors have been offered the option of probation with close supervision, counseling and other therapy.

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