The Council of State Governments Justice Center recently released Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Mental Health Court, which describes 10 important program elements for jurisdictions to consider when planning a mental health court. Essential elements include:

·   Planning and administration by a broad-based group of stakeholders representing criminal justice, mental health,

     substance abuse treatment and the community;

·   Establishing a target population through eligibility criteria that address public safety and consider a community’s

     treatment capacity;

·   Timely participant identification and linkage to services;

·   Terms of participation that are clear and individualized, promote public safety, and facilitate treatment;

·   Allowing an informed choice by defendants who fully understand the program requirements before agreeing to

     participate;

·   Treatment supports and services in the community that are evidence-based;

·   Confidentiality that protects potential participants’ rights as mental health consumers and their constitutional

     rights as defendants;

·   Court team of criminal justice and mental health staff and service and treatment providers;

·   Monitoring adherence to court requirements by criminal justice and mental health staff; and

·   Sustainability through measuring performance, modifying the process and maintaining community support.

To view the full report with complete descriptions of these elements, download the PDF at http://consensusproject.org/mhcp/essential.elements.pdf.

In October 2007, the Council of State Governments Justice Center also released Repaying Debts, which is a guide to how policymakers can increase financial accountability among people leaving correctional facilities; improve rates of child support collection and victim restitution; and facilitate individuals’ safe and successful transition from prisons and jails to the community. The report recommends very specific strategies to improve how people released from prisons and jails meet their court-ordered financial obligations. It also provides examples from states that have successfully implemented some aspects of these strategies. To view the full report or the summary report, visit http://justicecenter.csg.org/media/press_releases.

The National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, themed “Justice for Victims. Justice for All,” will take place April 13-19. The Office of Victims of Crime has created a 2008 NCVRW Resource Guide. This kit includes tips for working with the media, customizable public awareness materials, information on victims’ rights services, statistical overviews, color artwork and a DVD. The guide can be downloaded in one file or in separate sections. For access to these materials, visit http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2008/welcome.html.

The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) released an article, “New Connection for Community Corrections,” which details its new online resource — the Electronic Monitoring Resource Center. The center, sponsored by NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, is an information-sharing forum for agencies and individuals working in corrections and law enforcement. It allows daily communication of ideas through a Web-based forum for program managers, administrators and line staff. It also provides resources in the areas of legal issues, legislation, news articles, procurement help, program administration, reports and research, and technology. The hope is that the center will help agencies develop better programs, improve existing programs and lead to a greater use of electronic supervision technology. NLECTC-Rocky Mountain plans to add links to available training, as well as access to individuals who can answer questions. Access the article about the program at www.justnet.org/techbeat/sumfall2007/NewConnectionforCommCorr.pdf. Visit the Electronic Monitoring Resource Center at https://emresourcecenter.nlectc.du.edu.

The Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago co-sponsored a conference with the Urban Institute called Broken Bonds: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Children with Incarcerated Mothers. This took place on Feb. 14 at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. The Chapin Hall Web site offers audio recordings of the conference presentations, as well as recordings of other past conferences dealing with youths in the U.S. The discussion at the conference on children with incarcerated mothers addressed the challenges these children encounter when dealing with housing, family relationships and finances. It also highlighted promising programs and policies. The conference was moderated by Laura Sullivan, a correspondent for National Public Radio. Speakers included: Sandra Barnhill, executive director and CEO of Foreverfamily; Amy Dworsky, senior researcher for the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago; Thomasina Hiers, director of programs and services for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and Nancy La Vigne, senior research associate for the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute. In addition to the remarks by these individuals, there is a recording of the audience question and answer session. To listen to these presentations, visit www.about.chapinhall.org/conferences/urban/feb2008/conference.html.

Click for front page