Virginia's 26TH judicial district service system struggles to effectively respond to increasing numbers of individuals who are involved with the criminal justice system and experiencing serious mental…

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $125,000 under the Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA 16.745) to Northwestern Community Services Board for a Project Grant concluding September 30, 2024. The grant funds the enhancement and expansion of mental health crisis stabilization treatment services in support of individuals involved in the criminal justice system and service providers in Virginia's 26th Judicial District. Key deliverables from the initial planning period include development of a business and sustainability plan and implementation guide. The project will pilot evidence-based mental health services, community-based treatment plans with court supervision, and data collection during the final quarter of the first year. A half-time case manager will offer services including screening, assessment, crisis care, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, primary care, telehealth, community transition, and reentry support to a minimum of 15 individuals in year one and 30 individuals each in years two and three.

Virginia's 26TH judicial district service system struggles to effectively respond to increasing numbers of individuals who are involved with the criminal justice system and experiencing serious mental health issues. To address this, the grant applicant and regional mental health services provider, northwestern community services board (CSB), is partnering with justice system leaders (the judge, commonwealth attorneys, and court services) to implement a behavioral health docket (BHD) in winchester-frederick county, virginia. The district population includes nearly 120,000 persons. Many are caucasian but there are significant groups of hispanics, african americans, and persons of other races/ethnicities. The BHD is a post-plea docket which provides treatment team support for defendants who have been diagnosed with serious mental illness so that they can continue to progress in illness management and recovery, as well as reduce criminal justice system involvement. Project objectives include: to enhance, expand, and operate mental health crisis stabilization treatment services in support of persons who are involved in the criminal justice system, as well as service providers; increase community capacity for mental health advocacy and wraparound services evidenced to support people with severe mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system; and provide programmatic support and capacity building for criminal justice professionals and community supervision to target individuals with severe mental health needs at risk of recidivism. The first year of grant funding will be dedicated to planning and piloting services, followed by two years of service implementation. Key deliverables from the planning period include development of a business and sustainability plan and a planning and implementation guide. The project will pilot evidence-based mental health services, community-based treatment plans with court supervision, data collection, and marketing during the 4TH quarter of the first grant year. A .5 FTE grant-funded case manager will offer mental health services. Mental health screening and assessment, crisis care, residential treatment, assisted outpatient mental health treatment, primary care services, telehealth, community transition, and reentry support services specific will be provided to 75 persons (year one minimum: 15 persons; years two and three minimum: 30 persons/year).