NCJ Number
201009
Date Published
2002
Length
63 pages
Annotation
This document summarizes the proceedings of Minnesota’s first Symposium on Offenders with Mental Illness: Understanding and Hope, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and Human Services on January 25, 2002.
Abstract
The goals of the symposium were to build better understandings of the issues posed by offenders with mental illness, to underscore the importance of partnerships between those who come into contact with these offenders, and to develop local action plans throughout Minnesota to improve services and strategies for offenders with mental illness. The symposium followed a national conference on offenders with mental illness, and sought to bring the national strategies to the local level. Presentations by a series of speakers are summarized and summaries of the break-out sessions are offered. The presenters discussed numerous topics related to offenders with mental illness, including a discussion of its root causes and the seven components every human services and corrections system should have in place to effectively manage these types of offenders. Another presentation focused on the speakers’ experience building partnerships with corrections and other service providers to better meet the needs of mentally ill offenders. Two Minnesota State Senators shared recent changes in legislation related to mentally ill offenders and also provided information about funding sources available to assist with the management of this population. The symposium also included a panel discussion led by mental health care providers, corrections professionals, law enforcement officers, and mental health advocates. The second half of the symposium involved the breakout sessions, which were designed to assist participants in strategizing for their local communities. The participants first met as professional groups and later re-grouped by region in order to plan action steps to make their region more responsive to the needs of mentally ill offenders. Opening remarks were made by Commissioner Michael O’Keefe and Commissioner Sheryl Ramstad Hvass. The document also includes a listing of the symposium presenters, participants, and a symposium program.