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​​ISSUE BRIEF:  Criminal Justice
Advising to reduce incarceration and recidivism.

​​Social and financial costs are high when a person with serious mental illness (SMI) is incarcerated if they otherwise could be in the community, have treatment, have access to medication, and still be accountable.

Statistically High Incarceration

17% of those incarcerated in local jails have SMI (over three times the rate of the general population.)1
10% of people with mental illness commit crimes as a direct consequence of mental illness symptoms.  Interaction with the criminal justice system is usually due to other factors, such as substance use, poverty and homelessness.2

Reducing Incarceration:  Tools/Best Practices

  1. SMI Prevention & Early Intervention
  2. Triage Programs:  Mental Health support services in:
    1. Shelters
    2. Hospitals & Clinics
    3. Schools
    4. Crisis Stabilization Units
    5. Mobile Crisis Units
    6. Peer Respite Services
  3. Crisis Intervention Training is required for law enforcement personnel.
  4. Mental Health Court
  5. Laura’s Law/Assisted Outpatient Therapy
  6. Post-Release Support: Connection to health/mental health/drug & alcohol treatment services and social services.
 
More info:  calbhbc.org/jails--prisons.html

Advice for Reviewing Jails

Speakers: Invite speakers to address:
  • · Mental Health services/programs
  • · "Warm Hand-Offs” - Access to MH/BH services and social supports (eg. vocational, housing) in preparation and upon release.
  • · “Sequential Intercept Model” (next page)
  • Recommended speakers:  Jail Warden/staff, BH Director/staff, related Contractors/staff, Probation Director/staff.
 
Patients Rights Advocates (PRAs): Federal disability rights laws mandate equal access to programs, services and activities for all people with disabilities in custody.  PRAs are authorized to review the mental health programs in jails.  Invite PRAs to participate at monthly meetings. 
 
Site Visits (access varies by jurisdiction).
 
Board Liaison: Ask one of your local board/commission members to attend the local Community Corrections Partnership (AB 109) Committee meetings and report back to your local board/commission.
 
Grand Jury Annual Reports: One of the civil grand juries’ duties is to look into the quality and management of the county’s jails and prisons. Links to reports.

The Sequential Intercept Model

The Sequential Intercept Model is a tool to help counties identify programs and resources and how best to coordinate them. This model was developed in the 1990s in response to the high prevalence of mental illness in people involved in the criminal justice system.3
Picture
Graphic description: Under the model, interventions occur along a continuum, beginning with crisis services and progressing to a call to law enforcement or emergency services, initial detention and court hearings, jail and prison, re-entry into communities, and, finally, community supervision. Intercept 0 includes the following crisis care community services to include crisis lines, 911 and interaction with local law enforcement. Intercept 1 includes interaction with local law enforcement that can lead to an arrest. Intercept 2 includes the initial detention and the first court appearance. Intercept 3 includes the jail and dispositional court or specialty court. Intercept 4 can include an interaction with the specialty court and includes prison and jail reentry. Intercept 5 includes the community correction services of parole and probation, and the continual interaction with the specialty court. ​More info at: “Together We Can: Reducing Criminal Justice Involvement for People with Mental Illness” MH Services Oversight & Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) 2017 Page 29: “Planning for Prevention and Diversion”.
​1 Steadman, H. J., Osher, F. C., Clark Robbins, P., Case, B., & Samuels, S. (2009). Prevalence of SMI among jail inmates.    Psychiatric Services, 60(6), 761-765
2 Skeem, J., Manchak, S., Peterson, J.K. (2011). Correctional policy for offenders with mental illness: creating a new paradigm for recidivism reduction. Law & Human Behavior, 35, 110-126.
3 Munetz, M. R., & Griffin, P. A. (2006). Use of the sequential intercept model as an approach to decriminalization of people with SMI. Psychiatric Services, 57(4), 544-549. 

OFFICE

717 K STREET, SUITE 427
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

mission

cALBHB/C supports the work of california's 59 local mental/ behavioral health boards and commissions by providing resources, training, and opportunities for communication and statewide advocacy.

Local boards are responsible for reviewing community mental health needs, services, facilities and special problems, and serve in an advisory capacity to local governing bodies and local mental/behavioral health directors per CA Welfare and Institutions Code 5604.2.
Donations are welcome. CALBHB/C is a nonprofit organization.