LJIC Intercept Filter 2

1. LJICIntercept Filter 2 October 1, 2007 Brenda Desmond Leslie Halligan Dr. Laura Wendlandt

2. Acronyms and Definitions MHP 53-21-102(11) Professional Person [MHF certification] 53-21-102(16) MH = Mental Health MI = Mental Illness CD= Chemical Dependency 53-24-103, 104 LAC = Licensed Addiction Counselor 37-35-102 Civil Commitment 53-21-121 through 128 Community Commitment 53-21-149

3. Challenges • Clients with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement may have: • Limited understanding of the legal system/process • Limited ability to assist counsel • Intermittent crisis stabilization • Need for MH treatment • Need for assistance with living skills so focus is not necessarily on following the law • Lack of resources (financial, housing, and family support to name a few) • Focus may be on surviving v. following the law

4. Systemic Challenges • We need better strategies to educate clients about the legal system (by attorneys, law enforcement, MH professionals…) • We need more qualified evaluators/professionals throughout Montana • We need more diversion programs and education • Better strategies to cross train professionals • There are limited crisis stabilization facilities • Step up and step down facilities needed • Lack of integrated treatment (CD and MH) • BHIF • CRF • GRP homes • Semi-independent living facilities (assisted living) • MHSP funding increases

5. Policy Changes Needed • Better to access to information about service availability (e.g. creation of a website) • More funding for emergency MH services • More qualified evaluators/professionals • Funding for training evaluators/professionals • More funding for MH placement options (e.g. crisis centers, BHIFs, more local community hospital beds… • More diversion opportunities • Increased MH/CD training for law enforcement, hospital staff, crisis workers, other stake holders

6. Disproportionate representation of clients with mental illness within the court system: To facilitate the reduction, we propose: • On site MH/CD staff across the system • MH/CD services for pre-trial detainees • Comprehensive access to Treatment Court • Need for more diversion programs • CIT

7. Intercept 2Court Processes Q: How are mentally ill offenders identified? • Self reported history • Law enforcement officers • Know history • Family report • Observed behavior (including statements) • Attorney, judges, cell mates, etc. ** We do not have a comprehensive screening mechanism to identify people in the court system.

8. Intercept 2Court Processes Q: How are mentally ill offenders handled? • Request by attorney for evaluation of client • Civil commitment • Fitness to proceed • Mental disease or defect defense • Request by judge for evaluation • Referral to MH Court coordinator (Missoula) • Occasionally dismissed for favorable MH/CD treatment • At times, needs not specifically addressed

9. Intercept 2Court Processes Q: Are there or should there be diversion alternatives for non violent substance abuse offenders? • Often, substance abusing offenders have co-occurring disorders. • Increases needed in state funding for CD treatment (both inpatient and outpatient). • Increased residential community facilities. • System wide on-site MH/CD professional

10. Intercept 2Court Processes Q: What changes/improvements would you like to see in respect to mentally ill offenders and nonviolent substance abuse offenders? • Forensic PACT services • Increases needed in state funding for MH treatment (both inpatient and outpatient). • Increased residential community facilities. • Jail based treatment • System wide on-site MH/CD professional