About

The Stepping Up initiative supports local jurisdictions in establishing and reaching measurable goals that demonstrate reduced prevalence of serious mental illness across the justice system.

The Problem
Why behavioral health needs are prevalent in local justice systems

The Solution
How Stepping Up is reducing the overincarceration of people with behavioral health needs

Our Framework
The foundation of the Stepping Up approach

Our Impact
The first—and next—10 years of Stepping Up

Our Team
Meet the partners
The Latest

Check out the latest updates from the Stepping Up team and partners.

Resources
Explore by type and issue

News
Stepping Up in the news

Events
Opportunities to learn and connect
Take Action

Stepping Up asks communities to come together to develop an action plan that can be used to achieve measurable impact in local criminal justice systems of all sizes across the country.

Join Stepping Up
Sign a county resolution

Become an Innovator County
Complete a brief survey

Create a Technical Assistance Center
Help counties join and implement Stepping Up

Launch Stepping Up for Youth
Adapt the framework for a younger population

It's been a decade since we launched Stepping Up. Read about the initiative's impact—and future.

January 2020

Archive: Jan 2020

Special Topics Case Studies: A Three-Part Series

Counties across the U.S. are taking action to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jails. In this new, three-part series, The Stepping Up Special Topics Case Studies, we highlight specific counties that are taking an innovative approach to achieve measurable impact in their local criminal justice systems. Read More