Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

Program goal(s) name: Improve access to behavioral health treatment and public safety. Program goal(s) description: Establish or enhance cross-system collaboration to address untreated mental illness and substance use disorders that contribute to public disorder and homelessness; Reduce burden on law enforcement and jails through improved crisis response systems and appropriate civil commitment pathways; and Modernize electronic health record systems and related technology to improve data collection, data sharing, coordination, and accountability between justice and behavioral health systems. Program objective(s) name: Improve crisis response and crisis stabilization services to address homelessness, mental health and substance use needs and enhance data collection and sharing systems between the justice system and community/behavioral health providers. Program objective(s) description: Develop or enhance Crisis Stabilization Centers with dedicated law enforcement drop-off capacity and civil commitment evaluation capabilities; Implement no-refusal policies and streamlined intake processes for law enforcement referrals with protocols to identify candidates who would benefit from civil commitment and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT); Increase access to transitional housing for individuals exiting crisis stabilization or justice settings to prevent homelessness. Provide ongoing crisis support and require treatment compliance as part of this transitional housing program; Enhance electronic health records and related technology in correctional settings to improve care during incarceration, pre-release service planning, and treatment continuity through reentry, with appropriate data sharing between justice and behavioral health systems.