To address mental health needs in your community, certain court and community responses must be developed early on. The following recommended best practices build the foundation for improving the court and community responses to mental health and co-occurring disorders.

Criminal Justice

The resources under Criminal Justice build on the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), which identifies appropriate responses at particular intercepts that can keep an individual from continuing to penetrate the criminal justice system. Additionally, effective court and community responses require interventions prior to engagement in the criminal justice system.

Civil Justice

Meaningful system change requires leadership. Courts, and judges in particular, are in a unique position to convene stakeholders and to lead such a group to consensus and action.

Areas of Focus

If engaged in proactively, several areas of focus can create necessary support structures and prevent justice system involvement for those with mental health disorders.