NCJ Number
188989
Journal
American Jails Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: March-April 2001 Pages: 64-65,67,68
Date Published
March 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes efforts in Illinois to develop a continuum of service across justice and hospital systems to stop the phenomenon of the revolving door between these systems for mentally ill incarcerated people.
Abstract
The central element of this effort is flexible, long-term support for the homeless with mental illness that extends well beyond jail sentences and hospital stays. The common element in all the initiatives is awareness of the needs of this population and new levels of interagency cooperation to meet those needs. Specific initiatives include the provision of medication as a person is released from the jail, civil commitment following criminal commitment, outpatient commitment, and electronic access to information. Additional initiatives include a program called Assertive Community Treatment, in which services are delivered at the individual’s residence rather than in an office-based setting and short-term linkage case management for everyone discharged from the State hospital. Further initiatives include Assertive Community Treatment teams focused on serving homeless persons or those at risk of homelessness, safe havens, programming for individuals with dual diagnosis, regional planning, modifications in the police response, and mental health probation. Photographs