Tag Archives: Mental Health Diversion Program

Guidelines for Care for Transitioning from Jails and Prisons for Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders

Guidelines for Care for Transitioning from Jails and Prisons for Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders Hosted by SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, this webinar will introduce the “Guidelines for Care for Transitioning from Jails and Prisons for Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders.” Developed in collaboration with the Council of State Governments Justice Center and […]

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Behavioral Health Conference’s New “Criminal Justice Track” Emphasizes Collaboration with the Criminal Justice System to Improve Outcomes

The Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center), in collaboration with SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation (GAINS), developed a new “Criminal Justice Track” at the National Council for Behavioral Health’s (NCBH) annual conference, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 8-10, 2013. With more than 3,500 participants, this conference represents the largest […]

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Make courthouse ADA-compliant

[Source: “Make courthouse ADA-compliant,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by Karla Smith] I am so proud to live in a community that feels it is important to have a safe and easily accessible courthouse that meets the guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act. A courthouse with enough courtrooms to be able to give our citizens […]

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New jail for 195 inmates is immediately necessary

[Source: “New jail for 195 inmates is immediately necessary,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by John Whiston, a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.] Every year, my students represent about 100 people charged with indictable misdemeanors. I would be one of the first to say that over-incarceration of non-violent offenders is a real […]

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Drug and Addiction Programs Help Reduce Incarceration – Ron Berg, Director of MECCA Services in Iowa City

In the video below, Ron Berg, the Director of MECCA Services, discusses the benefits of drug and addiction programs to help reduce incarceration. “We don’t think incarcerating and charging people with legal offenses is necessarily helpful when you’re looking at their drug use. We ought to be getting people into treatment. In terms of being cutting […]

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Focus on problem, not peripherals

[Source: “Focus on problem, not peripherals,” Press Citizen, 1 May 2013, by Sue Ellen Crosslea] I have followed discussions about the proposed justice center, and my concern is why so many people are focused on problems peripheral to the project. There are many important services a justice center would offer, and those are being side-tracked. […]

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County Dems support justice center bond

[Source: “County Dems support justice center bond,” Press Citizen, 30 April 2013, by Mike Carberry] Johnson County desperately needs to upgrade the quality of our justice infrastructure. We need a justice center that is safe, disability-accessible and secure on both sides of the judicial bench. We do not have this now. We are one of […]

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Gazette Supports Justice Center

[Source: “New Vote,” Gazette Editorial Board, 28 April 2013] Just a few months after Johnson County voters declined to approve a bond to build a new justice center, the issue is back on the ballot for May 7. Although the proposal has changed slightly in response to critics’ concerns about size, cost and design, our […]

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CrimeStoppers supports center

[Source: “CrimeStoppers supports center,” It has been known for some time that the Iowa City population is fast growing; however, we all may have become complacent as to the generally law-abiding behavior of our community. In 2007, the residents in a west Iowa City neighborhood were brought up short with a home invasion, burglary and […]

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Supportive of justice center, yet voting ‘no’

[Source: “Supportive of justice center, yet voting ‘no’,” Press Citizen, 25 April 2013] As distasteful as it is for me to be in favor of a larger jail, I support the justice center proposal. Yet, I will be voting “no” on May 7. Let me explain. I support those incarcerated having greater physical access to […]

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Focus turns to jail alternatives in Johnson County justice center debate

[Source: “Focus turns to jail alternatives in Johnson County justice center debate,” The Gazette, 21 April 2013] Supporters say space is needed, but opponents say alternatives not being explored IOWA CITY — The group meets Monday mornings in the Johnson County Attorney’s Office to see who they can try to get out of the county […]

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Johnson County Mental Health and Developmental Disability (MH/DD) Jail Alternatives Program Press Release of 12 September 2006

PRESS RELEASE JOHNSON COUNTY MH/DD JAIL ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM MARKS 1-YEAR OF OPERATION 12 September 2006 The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has accepted the first annual report on the County’s MH/DD Jail Alternatives Program and voted unanimously to move the program from pilot to permanent status. Dr. Mindy Lamb, Johnson County’s Mobile Crisis Coordinator, reported […]

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