Corrections Community

I am serving on a Virginia State Task Force to reform mental health law and how it relates to the Criminal Justice system.  My piece of this is finding out what progressive models are there nationwide that provide

1.  Diversion from Jail for mentally ill

2.  Internal housing options for mentally ill inmates

3.  Restoration programs within jails for mentally ill.

 

 

I would suggest starting with the GAINS center, http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/, they have great resources....Melissa

I have been working on the same issues here in nj.  If you would like we could talk directly at 551-206-4533.  I could share what I have so far.

 

Patrick Hughes

BHS Director

Bergen County Sheriff's Department

Keene NH has a mental health court  I believe at the District Court.

Nashua NH was putting one together as well.  I believe Nashua was going to attempt a diversion model and the Keene model was using more of a creative sentencing.

 

NHDOC is splitting its psychiatric unit into an acute care section and a residential treatment unit.  the residential treatment unit is in development stage and was prompted by court action.  It is likely to have a 90 day LOS and requires the inmate to have an Axis I mental illness or borderline personality disorder.  likely to have groups to improve such things as anger management, emotion regulation, illness management and recovery, interpersonal skills.  I am involved with the program development  - work email dworster@nhdoc.state.nh.us

Check into NAMI and the Memphis model of the Crisis Intervention Team program (CIT).  Not a lot of jail information but I am a CIT officer in the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center and we are trying to set up the program to work in our jail

We, at GCDC, have a GP section inwhich we commonly house persons with chronic mental illness, as well as some chronic health issues.

At this time, we are in our infancy with this pod arrangment, having moved from a two 18-20 person open dorms. The mental health staff is letting tis opnion be know re: recreation access, and various other opportunites.  When finally settled, we will be ofereing a 1-2  psychoedcuational groups per wee,.  We combat drug hoarding as do most of us; the pods not awalys provisng the access of open dorms.

 

I work at a large county jail East of San Francisco.  We have a separeate unit for inmates with serious mental illnesses.  Our staff is on the unit every day and Deputies receive special training to work on the unit.  It is still jail but better than other units where gang policits make it difficukt for anyone who is "different."  We place anyone with a developmental disability, psychotoc symptoms, & anyone who appears vulnerable on the unit.  Only mental health staff can admit to the unit. We try to intervene with the court on their behalf when appropriate, and of coure theu recieve medication and routine visits by staff and psychiatrist.  We do release planning and provide a 2 week supply of take home medication.

 We have Mental Health Court where inmates, who are mentally ill, can receive a "treatment sentence" rather than incarceration.  If they fo not follow the treatment plan, they are returned to jail to complete their time.

 Not sure what you mean by restoration programs.  Do you mean restoration to victims or assistance for the inmate?  I am not familiar with the term.

I'd be interested in hearing from others.  I am new to the forum.

Kay

usually restoration means restoring to competence = meaning treating someones mental illness so they can assist in their defense or understand the proceedings.  our state (NH) allows for someone to be restored within a year or the charges are in essence dropped.  I suppose they could be brought up again but I haven't seen that occur even in a case where a schizophrenic woman killed her child and attempted suicide.  In NH we do not restore by teaching people about the court - which some states do - I am glad of that.  we have the capacity to civilly commit developmentally disabled people who are not competent and have commit a serious crime (assault, sexual assaults, arson, or murder)

usually restoration means restoring to competence = meaning treating someones mental illness so they can assist in their defense or understand the proceedings.  our state (NH) allows for someone to be restored within a year or the charges are in essence dropped.  I suppose they could be brought up again but I haven't seen that occur even in a case where a schizophrenic woman killed her child and attempted suicide.  In NH we do not restore by teaching people about the court - which some states do - I am glad of that.  we have the capacity to civilly commit developmentally disabled people who are not competent and have commit a serious crime (assault, sexual assaults, arson, or murder)

Deb

how big in the jail in greenville?..dp

Donnie Phillips, Project Coordinator

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

The Durham Center

501 Willard Street

Durham, NC  27701

Voice  919-560-7223

Fax     919-560-7549

dphillips@co.durham.nc.us

 

 

 

Hi -

DONNIE-> The Jail in Greenville has a current rated capacity of about 1039 -- however our average flow for the past year has been 1450 (+/- 25).  We have a new expansion coming on board with 448 beds -- bringing our anticipated rated capacity to about 1487

KAY-> where East of SF are you?.  I am looking to improve our MI unit. Recently approved to take over our former  SHU, which is subdivided inot 4 section of 12 rooms each.

 

Thanks, JJ Larson  [ jlarson@greenvillcounty.org ]

I feel that the government should look into ways of assisting those jailed because they normally feel left out once they have served their sentences they normally end up in crime and also doing drugs as a way of trying to fit in the society . ........................................................ sara lee Florida Drug Rehab www.floridadrugrehab.com

I work at Norfolk City Jail in Norfolk, VA., which is the largest jail in Virginia (averages approx 1800 inmates). We currently have three programs for Mental Healh inmates: Jail Diversion, Outpatient Restoration provided by the Norfolk Community Service Board, and Mental Health Court. Jail Diversion is the newest program and was started in Oct 2007. We also have a housing unit designed for mental health inmates that houses approximately 35 inmates. Inmates are screened and then selected only the MH Staff for placement into the MH unit. April Green, BA Mental Health Coordinator Norfolk City Jail 811 East City Hall Ave Norfolk, Virginia 23510 757-664-4729 april.green@norfolk.gov

April - I would be ienterested in learning more aobut your program..

Here is the overview of the program we just impplemented this month.

 Psychological Service Program & Phases

The Psychological Services staff along with Detention Center security staff has designed a program for inmates with mental health concerns to improve the inmate’s functioning, daily living skills, and accountability for recovery. Both the Psychological Services and the Detention Center security staff recognize that people are in different stages of their mental health recovery process and need to be treated accordingly, through a “Phased” treatment program.  According to a set criterion, both security level and privileges for an inmate is pre-determined by the phase.  Security can be intensified or relaxed based on inmate behavior.  Privileges can also be restricted or allowed based on inmate behavior.