Mental Illness & the Criminal Justice System

• MHCJ Report: Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System - March 2005

The Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System Working Group brings together judges, advocates, treatment providers, prosecutors, corrections officials, and consumers to address the needs of persons with mental illness who enter the criminal justice system. The group is working to assure that persons who have a mental illness get the treatment and community stability they need to live productive crime free lives.

Multnomah County is currently working to redesign its mental health system. As part of this redesign effort, the Working Group is pursuing efforts to increase collaborations between the mental health and criminal justice systems. On May 15 2002, LPSCC coordinated a conference to assist in this effort. At the conference participants learned of efforts in California and Washington to increase collaborations and decrease the numbers of persons with mental illness who enter the criminal justice system. Information, including transcripts, from the conference can be found below.

Conference on May 15, 2002 "Bridging the Gaps Between the Mental Health and Criminal Justice System"

Conference Materials:

• Agenda Packet
  
  
• Opening and Keynote Remarks
  
  
• Question and Answer Session

Working Group Reports:

• Recommendations for Improving Outcomes for Persons with Mental Illness, 2002
  
  
• Psychiatric Alert