Policy and News

Policy and News

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Current Laws

Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Prevention Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2007
The Act reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act for another five years with $50 million authorized per year. It also contains grants for States to train law enforcement to respond to people with mental illness and to develop alternatives to incarceration for the mentally ill.

For more information, read the Council of State Government's Press Release and Fact Sheet.

Second Chance Act of 2007
The Act authorizes grants for States to operate demonstration projects that increase offenders' participation in mental health services.

In the News

Sheriff says proposed mental heaclth cuts would burden L.A. jails
Los Angelese Times - 5/25/10

Prison not right place for mentally ill
Gazette Online - 5/25/10

Ending the criminalization of mental illness
La Crosse Tribune - 5/16/10

It's Now a Crime to Be Mentally Ill
Huffington Post - 5/10/10

Program for mentally offenders offers compassion in court
Dallas Morning News - 4/12/10

For detained youth, no mental health overseer
New York Times - 2/10/10

State ends adult mental health services at Milledgeville hospital
Atlanta Journal Constitution - 1/20/10

Repeat offenses in Texas raise questions over release of mentally ill juveniles
New York Times - 12/20/09

Treatment units for mentally ill inmates on hold
Boston Globe - 11/10/09

New court in St. Charles County for mental illness defendants
St. Louis Today - 10/21/09

Few defendants qualify for outpatient program
Ventura County Star - 10/11/09

Recidivism high among mentally ill inmates
Ventura County Star - 10/10/09

Republicans talk mental health in prisons
Richmond Times-Dispatch - 9/30/09

Treating the mentally in Illinois prisons
Chicago Tribune - 9/28/09

Mental health court could change lives, cut costs
The News-Enterprise - 9/24/09

The Released
PBS_Frontline.com - 4/09

Florida failing to meet mental health responsibilities
BradentonHerald.com - 8/30/09

Toledo area jails facing growing number of the mentally ill
ToledoBlade.com - 8/30/09

Juvenile system struggles with mentally ill kids
The Wall Street Journal.com - 8/10/09

Second Chance, Wasted
Sun Journal, Auburn, ME - 7/31/09

Mentally ill defendants to have own county court
Livingston Community News - 7/10/09

Florida lawmakers weigh overhauling system for mentally ill criminals
The Miami Herald - 4/20/09

Mentally ill getting help, not jail time
The Denver Post - 4/13/09

Harvard study: Under-treatment of mental illness contributes to crime
The Boston Globe - 1/15/09

L.A. County probation officials propose juvenile mental health hospital
Los Angeles Times - 12/22/08

Prison Is a Revolving Door for the Mentally Ill
Los Angeles Times - 12/01/08

Reducing Recidivism: New Program Aims to Help Mentally Ill Inmates
KCUR 89.3 - 11/19/08

Seattle Police Unit Reaches Out to the Mentally Ill
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - 10/12/08

Task Force Recommends Changes to State's Involuntary Commitment Laws
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - 10/09/08

Inside the Nation's Largest Mental Institution
National Public Radio, Morning Edition - 8/14/08