News
Congressional Briefing: How Three Communities Are Supporting Mental Health and Decreasing Justice System Involvement through JMHCP
In 2004, Congress created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) through the Department of Justice in 2004. The goal of JMHCP was to fund states and counties taking a new approach to address mental illness through local collaborations of criminal justice and mental health systems. This issue was urgent because individuals with mental illness tend to stay longer in jail and, upon release, are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration than people without these illnesses. You can watch a playback of a live conversation about the innovative programs supported by JMHCP and how those programs have improved services to people with mental illnesses and/or substance abuse disorders. Joining the conversation was U.S. Representative Bobby Scott, D-VA-3; U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, R-MN-6; Mike Brouwer, Criminal Justice Coordinator, Douglas County, KS; Karin Sonneman, Winona County Attorney; and Kelly Royston, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) for Rockingham County.
In 2004, Congress created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) through the Department of Justice in 2004. The goal of JMHCP was to fund states and counties taking a new approach to address mental illness through local collaborations of criminal justice and mental health systems. This issue was urgent because individuals with mental illness tend to stay longer in jail and, upon release, are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration than people without these illnesses. You can watch a playback of a live conversation about the innovative programs supported by JMHCP and how those programs have improved services to people with mental illnesses and/or substance abuse disorders. Joining the conversation was U.S. Representative Bobby Scott, D-VA-3; U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, R-MN-6; Mike Brouwer, Criminal Justice Coordinator, Douglas County, KS; Karin Sonneman, Winona County Attorney; and Kelly Royston, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) for Rockingham County.
Wichita Leaders Consider How to Reduce Returns to Prison and Address Violent Crime
Seeking to improve outcomes for people on community supervision, local leaders in Wichita, Kansas, assessed services available to people on parole. As a result, they came up with a targeted list of goals and action steps aimed at reducing parole revocations and preserving public safety. This targeted approach was needed because one-third of the total parole population was released to Sedgwick County, where Wichita is located, and of those parolees, at least two-thirds of people were at moderate to high risk of reoffending. The leaders found that their although their goal was initially focused on the supervised population, they quickly incorporated the Kansas State Department of Corrections community corrections program as well. As their goal, they identified increased information-sharing among law enforcement, parole agencies, and service providers. Read more about their recommended steps following a grant they received from the CSG Justice Center.
Seeking to improve outcomes for people on community supervision, local leaders in Wichita, Kansas, assessed services available to people on parole. As a result, they came up with a targeted list of goals and action steps aimed at reducing parole revocations and preserving public safety. This targeted approach was needed because one-third of the total parole population was released to Sedgwick County, where Wichita is located, and of those parolees, at least two-thirds of people were at moderate to high risk of reoffending. The leaders found that their although their goal was initially focused on the supervised population, they quickly incorporated the Kansas State Department of Corrections community corrections program as well. As their goal, they identified increased information-sharing among law enforcement, parole agencies, and service providers. Read more about their recommended steps following a grant they received from the CSG Justice Center.
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Implementation Science Checklist Series
For criminal justice and behavioral health agencies looking to adopt evidence-based practices (EBPs) to advance behavior change, they can look to The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s implementation series checklist. The checklists are meant to help professionals who direct and oversee programming in the fields of corrections, community corrections, behavioral health, and social service agencies. The eight checklists will help professionals assess their agency’s EBP implementation efforts and use a research-based approach to ensure that investments in evidence-based practices yield desired outcomes. Read here for more information.
For criminal justice and behavioral health agencies looking to adopt evidence-based practices (EBPs) to advance behavior change, they can look to The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s implementation series checklist. The checklists are meant to help professionals who direct and oversee programming in the fields of corrections, community corrections, behavioral health, and social service agencies. The eight checklists will help professionals assess their agency’s EBP implementation efforts and use a research-based approach to ensure that investments in evidence-based practices yield desired outcomes. Read here for more information.
Spokane Region Awarded $700,000 grant for Criminal Justice System
The MacArthur Foundation awarded the Spokane region a $700,000 grant to reduce overincarceration in the Spokane County Jail. The grant is a part of the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which is designed to stop the overuse of jails and eliminate racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Grant funds will pay for new and existing programming aimed at keeping individuals out of jail.
The MacArthur Foundation awarded the Spokane region a $700,000 grant to reduce overincarceration in the Spokane County Jail. The grant is a part of the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which is designed to stop the overuse of jails and eliminate racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Grant funds will pay for new and existing programming aimed at keeping individuals out of jail.
Mortality in State and Federal Prisons, 2001-2018 – Statistical Tables
An April 2021 white paper published by the Department of Justice documents the mortality rate in state and federal prisons from 2001 to 2018. A total of 4,135 state prisoners died in publicly or privately operated facilities three years ago. The number of deaths rose by 5% from 2017 (3,943) to 2018 (4,135), the highest level since the Bureau of Justice Statistics began collecting data in 2001. State prisoners in 2018 were slightly more likely to die of cancer, liver disease, and suicide and more than twice as likely to die from homicide than the adjusted population of adult U.S. residents. The primary cause of death for state prisoners (87%) and federal prisoners (90%) was illness, with suicide being the second leading cause of death, followed by homicide. There was a 20% increase in suicide rates in 2018 (311 suicides) over 2017 (259 suicides) and an 85% increase from 2001 (168 suicides). Ohio saw between 101 to 151 deaths between 2001 and 2018. More statistical analysis, which provides race, ethnicity, and age data, can be found in the report, as well.
An April 2021 white paper published by the Department of Justice documents the mortality rate in state and federal prisons from 2001 to 2018. A total of 4,135 state prisoners died in publicly or privately operated facilities three years ago. The number of deaths rose by 5% from 2017 (3,943) to 2018 (4,135), the highest level since the Bureau of Justice Statistics began collecting data in 2001. State prisoners in 2018 were slightly more likely to die of cancer, liver disease, and suicide and more than twice as likely to die from homicide than the adjusted population of adult U.S. residents. The primary cause of death for state prisoners (87%) and federal prisoners (90%) was illness, with suicide being the second leading cause of death, followed by homicide. There was a 20% increase in suicide rates in 2018 (311 suicides) over 2017 (259 suicides) and an 85% increase from 2001 (168 suicides). Ohio saw between 101 to 151 deaths between 2001 and 2018. More statistical analysis, which provides race, ethnicity, and age data, can be found in the report, as well.
States of Incarceration: The Global Context
The report and infographic situate individual U.S. states in the global context and reveals that every region in the U.S. is out of step with the rest of the world. Louisiana was previously “the world’s prison capital” but it has been unseated by Oklahoma. In comparison, New York and Massachusetts appear to be the most progressive states when assessing their incarceration rates; however, they have higher rates than nearly every other country in the world. This report relies on 2018 data.
The report and infographic situate individual U.S. states in the global context and reveals that every region in the U.S. is out of step with the rest of the world. Louisiana was previously “the world’s prison capital” but it has been unseated by Oklahoma. In comparison, New York and Massachusetts appear to be the most progressive states when assessing their incarceration rates; however, they have higher rates than nearly every other country in the world. This report relies on 2018 data.
Wisconsin Program Helps People Find Jobs After Prison
Wisconsin is providing job support for people who have been incarcerated. At the Oakhill Correctional Institution, a prison in the town of Oregon, Wisconsin, detainees receive vocational training in one of several high-demand fields. The training is provided through job centers that have been placed at the facility. A grant to provide job training to detainees was passed through Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections (WIDOC), which is working to decrease barriers faced by incarcerated people when they return home. The WIDOC, in collaboration with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), will continue providing this training at five other job centers and conduct evidence-based practices training to community agencies in South Central Wisconsin. Together, the WIDOC and WDBSCW will also launch an app to share information about risks and needs so that agencies can be better equipped to provide employment services to formerly incarcerated people.
Wisconsin is providing job support for people who have been incarcerated. At the Oakhill Correctional Institution, a prison in the town of Oregon, Wisconsin, detainees receive vocational training in one of several high-demand fields. The training is provided through job centers that have been placed at the facility. A grant to provide job training to detainees was passed through Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections (WIDOC), which is working to decrease barriers faced by incarcerated people when they return home. The WIDOC, in collaboration with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), will continue providing this training at five other job centers and conduct evidence-based practices training to community agencies in South Central Wisconsin. Together, the WIDOC and WDBSCW will also launch an app to share information about risks and needs so that agencies can be better equipped to provide employment services to formerly incarcerated people.
College in Prison Adapts as COVID-19 Upends Education in Schools Everywhere
22,000 incarcerated people have been able to access higher education through the Second Chance Pell program and, of those students, 7,000 of them have been awarded certificates and degrees. The 1994 crime bill had a debilitating impact on the program because it curtailed hundreds of thousands of students’ eligibilities for the program, by prohibiting them from accessing federal need-based financial aid to pursue a higher education degree during incarceration. After the ban was implemented, the number of college-in-prison programs dropped precipitously. However, by July 2023, it is expected even more students will be eligible to take college courses because the Department of Education lifted the ban on access to Pell Grants for incarcerated people. The policy will take effect in two years.
22,000 incarcerated people have been able to access higher education through the Second Chance Pell program and, of those students, 7,000 of them have been awarded certificates and degrees. The 1994 crime bill had a debilitating impact on the program because it curtailed hundreds of thousands of students’ eligibilities for the program, by prohibiting them from accessing federal need-based financial aid to pursue a higher education degree during incarceration. After the ban was implemented, the number of college-in-prison programs dropped precipitously. However, by July 2023, it is expected even more students will be eligible to take college courses because the Department of Education lifted the ban on access to Pell Grants for incarcerated people. The policy will take effect in two years.
Over Half of Incarcerated People Are Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Most states have not prioritized incarcerated people for their vaccination plans. As a result, seven months since the first vaccines were distributed, just 55 percent of people in prison have been vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to infection. Incarcerated people are four to five times more likely to become infected due to living in close living spaces and their inability to social distance. Vaccination rates were calculated from data gathered by the UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, The Marshall Project, and other state-specific sources. Vaccination rates are poorest in Utah, South Carolina, and Alabama, and no data is available for Florida or Wyoming.
Most states have not prioritized incarcerated people for their vaccination plans. As a result, seven months since the first vaccines were distributed, just 55 percent of people in prison have been vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to infection. Incarcerated people are four to five times more likely to become infected due to living in close living spaces and their inability to social distance. Vaccination rates were calculated from data gathered by the UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, The Marshall Project, and other state-specific sources. Vaccination rates are poorest in Utah, South Carolina, and Alabama, and no data is available for Florida or Wyoming.
More Than 5 Million Children Have Had an Incarcerated Parent
Since 1980, the number of incarcerated women has exploded by more than seven times. There are an estimated 1.2 million women under the control of the criminal legal system, including community supervision and those incarcerated in local jails or state and federal prisons. Of those women, more than 58 percent of them in state and federal prison have minor children, and nearly 80 percent of women in local jails are parents as well. This means upwards of 5 million children are without one or both parents. The presumption is that their mothers have committed grave and violent crimes, when, in fact, most women in jail have been accused or convicted of non-violent offenses. Thirty-two percent of women booked in local jails are there for property charges, 29 percent on drug charges, and 21 percent on public order charges. Incarcerating women displaces them from their families and support systems. Alternatives can include remedial counseling in parenting, diversion, and drug rehabilitation.
Since 1980, the number of incarcerated women has exploded by more than seven times. There are an estimated 1.2 million women under the control of the criminal legal system, including community supervision and those incarcerated in local jails or state and federal prisons. Of those women, more than 58 percent of them in state and federal prison have minor children, and nearly 80 percent of women in local jails are parents as well. This means upwards of 5 million children are without one or both parents. The presumption is that their mothers have committed grave and violent crimes, when, in fact, most women in jail have been accused or convicted of non-violent offenses. Thirty-two percent of women booked in local jails are there for property charges, 29 percent on drug charges, and 21 percent on public order charges. Incarcerating women displaces them from their families and support systems. Alternatives can include remedial counseling in parenting, diversion, and drug rehabilitation.
Women’s Incarceration Rates Are Skyrocketing. These Advocates Are Trying to Change That.
As jails are decarcerated, women have been left behind. Several women have championed to correct this, especially with 231,000 women and girls currently being held in prions on jail across the United States. Nearly 50 years ago, there were 75 percent of counties that did not incarcerate a single woman. Since then, women have been the fastest-growing population in the criminal justice system. With many incarcerated women suffering a history of abuse, trauma, and mental health conditions, jails and prisons have been ill-equipped to handle their needs. Read about the social justice advocates seeking to help more women in prison.
As jails are decarcerated, women have been left behind. Several women have championed to correct this, especially with 231,000 women and girls currently being held in prions on jail across the United States. Nearly 50 years ago, there were 75 percent of counties that did not incarcerate a single woman. Since then, women have been the fastest-growing population in the criminal justice system. With many incarcerated women suffering a history of abuse, trauma, and mental health conditions, jails and prisons have been ill-equipped to handle their needs. Read about the social justice advocates seeking to help more women in prison.