Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $250,000)
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP), seeks to increase public safety through innovative cross-system collaboration for individuals with mental illness who come into contact with the criminal or juvenile justice systems. This program is funded through the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA) (Public Law 108-414). The program is designed to increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among criminal justice, juvenile justice, mental health, and substance abuse treatment systems to increase access to services for offenders with mental illness. Activities under this initiative encourage early intervention for 'system-involved' individuals with mental illness; provides new and existing mental health courts with various treatment options; maximizes diversion opportunities for nonviolent offenders with mental illness and co-occurring disorders; promotes training for justice and treatment professionals on criminal justice processes and mental health and substance abuse issues; and, facilitate communication, collaboration, and the delivery of support services among justice professionals, treatment and related service providers, and governmental partners.
The New York City's Department of Correction (DOC) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) submitted a joint application to plan and implement a jail diversion program for adult misdemeanor offenders with mental illnesses. In New York City, DOC is responsible for the jails and DOHMH is responsible for the health and mental health services. CASES is the contractor for this program.
CASES' Day Custody Program (DCP), operating in partnership with DOC, is a three-day jail alternative for repeat misdemeanants. Participants report to a secure DOC facility each day where they perform supervised community service and receive needs assessments, treatment readiness counseling and referrals to other service providers. The program will enhance DCP by creating a three-day alternative sentencing option and having access to intensive case management for mentally ill clients.
The grant funds will be used to: hire a project coordinator, a case manager, a peer specialist, and a social worker; support travel costs; and secure computer equipment and program supplies.
CA/NCF