New Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners Detailing the Available Research on the Design, Function, and Efficacy of Mental Health Courts

The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced the release of Mental Health Courts: A Guide to Research-Informed Policy and Practice. The guide examines available studies on mental health courts and translates the findings to help policymakers and practitioners understand their design and function, as well as their success. Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the guide reviews how mental health courts address the issues related to people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.

Spotlight on JMHCP: State of New Jersey

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). Center staff asks 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 state of New Jersey Department of Corrections, a 2008 JMHCP Implementation and Expansion Grantee.

Program Summary

The New Jersey Department of Corrections received an implementation and expansion grant to pilot two programs inside of the women’s prison: the Seeking Safety program, that responds to trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse problems experienced by women residing in prison and a reentry program, called Community Living 101, which builds skills and readiness for community living.

The Seeking Safety program is a 14-week program that meets for 90 minutes, two times per week. Upon completing Seeking Safety, graduates are enrolled in another 14-week program, Community Living 101, which also meets twice weekly for 90 minutes. Researchers at the Rutgers University Center for Behavioral Health Services & Criminal Justice Research will be studying the effectiveness of these interventions, and results from this study will be used to build and implement programs to help women with histories of trauma recover and live successfully in the community.

Senate Holds Hearing on "Human Rights at Home: Mental Illness in U. S. Prisons and Jails"

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, chaired by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), held a hearing on "Human Rights at Home: Mental Illness in U.S. Prisons and Jails" on September 15, 2009. The hearing focused on the high rate of mental illnesses among U.S. prisoners and was the Subcommittee’s first hearing examining a domestic human rights issue. Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Senator Al Franken (D-MN) also attended the hearing.

MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental Illness

Premieres on PBS stations in October. Many organizations are using this program for screening events to focus on systemic change.

MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental Illness Produced by the Fred Friendly Seminars for broadcast on PBS stations nationwide, the one-hour program effectively reveals the personal dilemmas facing individuals and families, the medical practices that can be obstacles to treatment, and the public policies that are falling short.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND 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.

Durango Herald (CO): Op-Ed: Cutting recidivism with treatment
9/9/09 —"A study first reported by The Denver Post shows a 2-year-old program that treats mentally ill inmates has successfully and dramatically reduced the recidivism rate among those who participated."

The Wichita Eagle (KS): Wichita OKs mental health court
9/8/09—"When people with mental illness are sent to jail time after time for the same petty offenses, it doesn't do much good for them or taxpayers."

Denver Post (CO): Drug aid program benefits mentally ill prisoners
9/7/09—"A 2-year-old program designed to provide medication and monitoring to inmates with mental illnesses has shown the potential to dramatically reduce recidivism among those who participate, according to a new study."

LoHud.com (NY): Inmates learn how to manage mental illness
9/5/09—"With the help of grant funding, Fishkill Correctional Facility received the necessary funds to provide mental health services to individuals with diagnoses of mental illnesses who are incarcerated."

Foster's Daily Democrat (NH): Portsmouth Community Wellness Court graduates first class
9/2/09—"It's rare to hear applause in Portsmouth District Court, but on Tuesday plenty of clapping could be heard as the first group of individuals graduated from a new program aimed at treating those with mental health challenges rather than fining them or sending them to jail."

Toledo Blade (KS): Special courts offer alternatives to jail sentences
8/31/09—"In an effort to curtail the number of individuals with diagnoses of mental illnesses headed to Toledo area jails, local Mental Health Courts are stepping up to see that individuals coming into contact with the corrections system are getting the services or guidance they need to stay out of prison."

El Paso Times (TX): Law keeps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder out of jail
8/30/09—"Combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who are accused of certain crimes may soon have a choice between a trial or mental-health treatment."

Toledo Blade (KS): Toledo area jails facing growing numbers of the mentally ill
8/30/09—"Toledo area jails are seeing an influx of individuals who have diagnoses of mental illnesses. This 2-part story details some of the steps the Lucas County jail is taking to provide these individuals with the services they need, as well as the steps they’re taking to reduce recidivism."

LoHud.com (NY): Treatment offered over jail for offenders
8/27/09—"Rockland officials yesterday announced a mental health and substance abuse prevention program as an alternative to jail for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans accused of a nonviolent crimes."

Athens Banner-Herald (GA): Courts tout drug program as help to budget, case log
8/26/09—"Judges and prosecutors in Barrow, Jackson and Banks counties hope to secure a $342,000 federal grant to start a drug and mental health court similar to Athens-Clarke County's 5-year-old program."