NCJ Number
247205
Date Published
July 2013
Length
131 pages
Annotation
This report presents material and data on Teton County's (Wyoming) planning and strategies in implementing a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for the design of a strategic, collaborative plan for systemic change in identifying and treating justice-involved mentally ill persons or those with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Abstract
The grant proposal was a collaboration with Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center (JHCCC) and supported by many local social service and criminal justice system partners. The JMHCP encourages early intervention for these justice-involved mentally ill individuals; maximizes diversion opportunities for nonviolent individuals; promotes training for justice and treatment professionals; and facilitates communication, collaboration, and the delivery of support services by justice and treatment professionals. The strategies developed are intended to prevent disproportionate rates of incarceration for those served. This is done by increasing the availability and appropriate referral to alternatives to detention. Program design and exchanges of data comply with all rules and regulations for protected health information and defendants' rights. Assisting in this effort were defense attorneys, who participated in focus groups as part of the planning project. Three documents are included in this final report. One is the initial community needs assessment, which obtained and analyzed data and needs pertinent to serving justice-involved mentally ill individuals. A second document is the supplemental data report, which contains additional information that various stakeholders provided in a follow-up to the initial assessment report. Also included in this final report are strategic plan documents that contain the participant list and meeting schedule; the strategic plan, which presents desired improvements by 2018; a local criminal justice "map" of defendant processing where screenings and evaluations occur; and a Consumer Roundtable Report intended to assist JMHCP group members better understand a multi-system strategy.