NCJ Number
217282
Date Published
January 2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This case study describes how Kansas has developed collaboration between corrections and mental health organizations in order to improve reentry for offenders with mental illness.
Abstract
The Kansas Department of Corrections (DOC) and the State's Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) have jointly established and funded the Community Offender Resource-Pathways (COR-Pathways) program. This program established positions for two community resource coordinators (transition planners), who provide specialized transition planning for offenders with mental illness and other special needs. DOC has also created specialized mental health parole caseloads; five specially trained parole officers manage these caseloads across the State. In another collaborative effort, DOC negotiated a new contract with its mental health provider, Correct Care Solutions (CCS) that includes four new transition planners in addition to the two existing transition planners. They will serve offenders with mental illness and other special needs. The new contract with CCS also includes a requirement for a 30-day supply of postrelease medication, prescriptions for an additional 15 days of medications, and 90 days of postrelease aftercare. In addition, DOC and SRS have developed an intake procedure that provides information on an offender's mental health, substance abuse, and Medicaid history. DOC has also established separate agreements with community mental health centers in the State's two largest counties, in order to improve the transition back into the community of released mentally ill offenders.