Resource Center

This action brief provides rural communities recommended strategies for adapting promising or proven interventions to better support crisis response and pre-arrest diversion in their communities. It is the first of three briefs developed from the SAMHSA Pre-Arrest Diversion Expert Panel. 

A publication intended to help jurisdictions advance comprehensive, agency-wide responses to people who have mental illnesses. These responses feature cross-system collaborations between the criminal justice and behavioral health systems. The framework is organized around six main questions that law enforcement executives should consider to be successful in implementing or improving police-mental health collaborations (PMHCs) in their jurisdiction.

The Criminal Justice and Legal System Utilization and Associated Costs Report tests the effectiveness of the LEAD® program compared to the ‘system‐as-usual’ control condition in reducing publicly funded legal and criminal justice service utilization and associated costs (i.e., prosecution, public defense, jail, prison) prior and subsequent to evaluation entry. ​

This guide provides information and practices that behavioral health providers can implement in their daily practice with patients or clients who are involved in the criminal justice system. 

There is both anecdotal and research evidence that the number of people with mental illnesses being contacted by law enforcement and subsequently becoming involved in the criminal justice system is growing (Fellner 2014; James and Glaze 2006; Reuland and Margolis 2003). The increased contact with law enforcement and continual involvement with the criminal justice system creates problems for the individuals being arrested and incarcerated. This is true for the law enforcement and correctional professionals as well, who must try to meet the needs of these individuals in a context and environment not suited to maintaining their safety or mental stability.

This brief provides an overview of Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT)—an intensive service delivery model intended for people with serious mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system.

The Sequential Intercept Model is most effective when used as a community strategic planning tool to assess available resources, determine gaps in services, and plan for community change. These activities are best accomplished by a team of stakeholders that cross over multiple systems, including mental health, substance use, law enforcement, pretrial services, courts, jails, community corrections, housing, health, social services, people with lived experiences, family members, and many others

This manual provides a starting place for jurisdictions looking to use data to better understand and improve the outcomes of people with mental and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system.