Mental Health

This webinar will examine the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation of the Cumberland County Jail in Bridgeton, NJ which was conducted pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). The investigation focused on whether the CCJ complies with its obligations under the Constitution by taking adequate measures to provide mental health care and to prevent inmate suicides. These types of investigations were severely curtailed during the Trump Administration but are expected to increase during the Biden Administration.

A chaplain for the Bedford County Sheriff's Office is in search of resources to enhance education on suicide prevention to better assist his agency and help other area chaplains improve their knowledge base as well.

The Council of State Governments recently published a brief titled Addressing Misconceptions about Mental Health and Violence. This brief discusses the misconceptions that can lead to a perception that people with mental illness are more likely to be violent. Through understanding and dispelling these misconceptions, criminal justice professionals can further their goals of protecting public safety.

TTA outreach to tribal communities to discuss status of their programs, their needs for support, resources or referral for additional matters that are outside the scope of this TTA provider.

The National TIRW was a 3 day virtual training facilitated by national experts and delivered to 4 tribal affiliated groups on April 6-8, 2021. TIRW workshops aim to provide participants with the tools they need to develop effective reentry plans based on the sharing of operational, organizational, and culture-based concepts and processes that result in the identification of critical services and interventions needed to reduce recidivism and victimization.

Invited Session plenary speaker to the 2021 Virtual Mat-Su Reentry Summit. The emphasis of the summit was on building strong community partnerships and programs to enhance successful reentry and achieve recidivism reduction. My 75-minute session was titled, "Mental health and criminal justice."

APPA staff, Nan Benally was invited to present a 75 minute plenary session. The emphasis of the summit was on building strong community partnerships and programs to enhance successful reentry and achieve recidivism reduction. The session was titled, "2021 Virtual Mat-Su Reentry Summit."

TIRW-AK was a series of virtual modules facilitated by national experts and delivered to members of 8 Alaska native tribes and villages from March 16-18, 2021. Teams were comprised of tribal court specialists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, family contact facilitators, reentry coalition coordinators, crisis clinicians and council members, and others. Teams had to apply, be chosen, and complete several pre-workshop assignments.

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors and National Criminal Justice Association—in partnership with the National Governors Association—hosted a roundtable discussion on strategies to strengthen state planning and partnership and address substance use disorder issues among the justice-involved. This roundtable included facilitated and open discussion to identify collaborative strategies for states to improve coordination and planning and support justice-involved individuals with SUD.

Rural communities can face many challenges when developing and delivering crisis response programs for people with behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including wide geographic areas to serve, limitations in options for local treatment and social services, and resource constraints related to funding and staffing.