This section contains information on the Justice Center's major, ongoing technical assistance efforts on behalf of local, state, and federal agencies and private foundations.

Mental Health Court Learning Sites

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has designated five mental health courts as learning sites to provide a peer support network for local and state officials interested in planning a new or improving upon an existing mental health court. The learning sites--which represent a wide variety of program models and geographic locations--host site visits from other jurisdictions, answer questions from the field, and work with the Justice Center to assess and improve their own program operations.

Click here to learn more about the Mental Health Court Learning Sites

Law Enforcement/Mental Health Learning Sites

The Law Enforcement/Mental Health learning sites, selected by Justice Center and BJA staff, collectively reflect the range of strategies a law enforcement agency might consider when developing a collaborative initiative to address the needs of individuals with mental illnesses in their community. As centers of peer-to-peer learning and support, learning site personnel are committed to providing guidance to agencies in other jurisdictions that are interested in creating or expanding their own Specialized Policing Responses. Click here to learn more.

Judges' Leadership Initiative

The Judges' Leadership Initiative (JLI) provides judges with resources and networking opportunities to spearhead efforts that improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system. Through this initiative, the Justice Center has administered a grant program for state chief justices to convene criminal justice/mental health task forces in their states. Click here to learn more.

Additional information about this initiative is also available through the SAMHSA National GAINS Center at http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/jli/default.asp.