Community-based behavioral health providers and systems have an essential role in serving individuals with mental and substance use disorders who are currently or formerly involved with the criminal justice system. These individuals are a part of every community, and as for all community members with behavioral health needs, individualized, integrated, comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous service is the standard of care. Individuals with behavioral health issues are overrepresented in jails and prisons across the United States.1 Most of these individuals return to their communities, families, and social networks and subsequently require community-based behavioral and physical health care services. Research has shown that mental and substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life, with or without justice involvement, and, with the services and supports of behavioral health providers, many people recover.

This timely brief resource introduces a new evidence-based model for treatment of mentally ill individuals in jails, with emphasis on community-based options. Forensic mental health experts review police alternatives to arresting mentally ill persons in confrontations, the efficacy of problem-solving courts, and continuity of care between jail and community. The book's best-practices approach extends to frequently related issues such as addiction, domestic violence, juvenile considerations, and trauma and describes successful programs coordinating judicial and clinical systems. These guidelines for decriminalizing non-violent behaviors and making appropriate services available to those with mental problems should also help address issues affecting the justice system, such as overcrowding. Included in the coverage: The Best Practices Model. Best practices in law enforcement crisis interventions with the mentally ill. Problem-solving courts and therapeutic jurisprudence. Competency restoration programs. A review of best practices for the treatment of persons with mental illness in jail. Conclusions, recommendations, and helpful appendices. With its practical vision for systemic improvement, Best Practices Model for Intervention with the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System is progressive reading for practitioners in the mental health field, especially practitioners working with inmates, as well as for stakeholders in the law enforcement and justice systems.

The newest entry in the cutting-edge topic of Mental Illness and Crime, this practically focused and straight-forward book from Denise Kindschi Gosselin is appropriate for both graduate and undergraduate courses. Broadly addressing psychiatric disorders, it is written to bridge the gap of information between the two disciplines of criminal justice and mental health. A must-read text for any student or professional as they consider responses to issues of mental disorders. Written from the criminal justice perspective, controversies and program evaluations are presented. Organized into five sections, Mental Illness and Crime-- Part I UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS concern the history (past and present), classifications, and introduction to the criminal justice issues on the responses to people with mental illness. Part II THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE examines the criminal justice involved encounters that occur outside of the traditional system, involving intervention, collaboration, and civil commitment. Part III CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES look at law and policy of law enforcement, the criminal court and corrections. Part IV ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION reflects recent changes to reentry and community corrections. The juvenile justice component includes the brief system responses to juveniles with mental disorders. Part V GLOBAL ISSUES stands alone as chapter 14 to remind us that we are not alone! The issues and system responses are not unique to the United States. This chapter puts us in perspective with the world around us. Thought-provoking "crucial questions" and end of chapter review questions facilitate class discussion while "In My Experience" questions draw upon the author's career as a Massachusetts state trooper.

This comprehensive book addresses the complex issues associated with the criminalization of mentally ill offenders in the United States and the ways in which social workers and other mental health professionals can best channel their efforts to create better services and treatment. Specialists in law enforcement, community-based mental health and outreach, the legal community, the corrections environment, and substance abuse providers present best practices and programs that offer rehabilitation alternatives to mentally ill offenders. Unique to this volume is the perspective provided by key players of the criminal justice system including a judge, a prosecutor, an advocate, a defense attorney, and a mentally ill offender. The last section provides in-depth research into the challenges of placing the dually-diagnosed offender into alternative-to-incarceration programs.