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Competency restoration alternatives
When a court determines that a defendant is not competent to stand trial, it often directs the defendant to inpatient treatment at the state hospital until competency is restored and they can return to the court. This is not always an efficient use of resources, and the process may take… Read More
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)
SOAR is an approach designed to facilitate the preparation, submission, and approval of Social Security Insurance/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) applications. The approach includes training for case managers, development of clear procedures, and technical assistance for participating agencies to facilitate the preparation and submission and improve the accuracy of SSI/SSDI… Read More
Pretrial diversion
At the pre-adjudication stage, people are identified as having a mental illness or co-occurring substance addiction and are referred to a pretrial diversion program. People referred to the program follow an alternative criminal justice case process and are connected with appropriate services and treatment. Read More
Screening and assessment process for mental illness
Every person booked into jail is screened for mental illnesses using validated screening tools. For those that screen positive for serious mental illness, a licensed mental health professional administers a validated clinical assessment in a timely manner. Crucial case information is then disseminated to appropriate decision makers to inform pretrial… Read More
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
CIT officers are dispatched to mental health calls or to assist officers who are not CIT-qualified. These officers complete a 40-hour training course in mental health and de-escalation techniques and maintain partnerships with mental health providers. CIT officers are volunteers selected by their agencies (representing approximately 25 percent of the… Read More