3 Part Series on Supporting
the Recovery of JusticeInvolved Consumers
March 6th, 2013
Chanson D. Noether
LaVerne D. Miller
Tracy C. Love
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
The Number of Consumers Involved
in the Criminal Justice System
Approximately 6% of Americans have a serious mental illness
(Kessler et al., 2005)
Yet, 15% of men and 31% of women entering jail have a serious mental illness
(Steadman et al., 2009)
75% also have a co-occurring substance use disorder (Abram, Teplin, & McClelland, 2003)
Each day…
Between 300,00 and 400,000 people with serious mental illness are incarcerated
in local jails and state prisons
500,000 are on probation or parole in the community
More than 3,000 are arrested by law enforcement
(National Leadership Forum on Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Services, 2009)
This does not count law enforcement contacts that don’t result in
arrest or people with pending charges on pre-trial release
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
The Criminal Justice Impact
How are people with behavioral health needs in
the justice system different from people outside
the justice system?
More likely to be homeless
More likely to have problems with alcohol and drugs
More likely to use inpatient and emergency room services
More likely to be unemployed
More psychological impairment and trauma histories
(Esterly et al., 2010)
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
Challenges to Reentry
Returning inmates with serious mental illness:
More likely to experience homelessness
Less likely to find employment
Especially true for those with co-occurring disorders
Difficulty obtaining community mental health services
Mainstream community-based mental health programs may be
ineffective in meeting their diverse needs
Some community mental health programs may be unwilling to
provide services to those with a criminal history
(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2012)
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
The GAINS Center’s Focus on
Justice-Involved Consumers
The GAINS Center:
Is a SAMHSA-funded technical assistance center
Provides technical assistance to a wide variety of SAMHSA-funded
programs
Is committed to ensuring the meaningful participation of justiceinvolved consumers in grant activities
Is committed to promoting the integration of recovery support
services
Is committed to unleashing leadership potential
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
3-Part Series History
History
Collaboration between NAMI STAR Center and the GAINS Center
Gives voice to a group that is often invisible and not seen as part of the
larger consumer community
Promotes greater understanding of the unique challenges faced by justiceinvolved consumers
Empowers justice-involved consumers to successfully overcome these
challenges
Increases access and use of recovery tools by justice-involved consumers
and providers
Highlights innovative programs that are making a difference
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
My Voice/Myself: Tracy C. Love
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
Document Series Highlights/
How to Best Use the Materials
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
Other GAINS Center Resources
The GAINS Center website:
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
GAINS Center ListServ:
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/forms/join_listserv.asp
The GAINS Center Virtual Learning Community:
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/forms/join_virtual_learning.asp
PeerShare on the GAINS Center VLC
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/peer_resources/peershare.asp
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
How Can We Help?
Questions?
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for
Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation
345 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054
PH: (518) 439-7415
FAX: (518) 439-7612
http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/