The coconino county superior court proposes to implement the coconino county mental health court program

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded a $550,000 Project Grant to the County of Coconino, Arizona under the Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA 16.745). The purpose of this 3-year grant is to implement the Coconino County Mental Health Court Program, which aims to connect justice-involved individuals with mental health disorders to evidence-based services to improve wellbeing, reduce criminal behaviors, and lower recidivism rates. The program will focus on addressing racial and ethnic inequities and increasing access to mental health services for underserved Native American communities in Coconino County. The grant will fund the operation of the alternative mental health court and the coordination of a multidisciplinary team to address the criminogenic risk factors that often lead to continued involvement in the criminal justice system.

The purpose is to operate an alternative mental health court that connects participants with services to achievewellbeing and long-term recovery, reduce justice involvement and criminal behaviors, and reduce recidivism. Mental health court offers offenders on probation an opportunity to participate in an evidence-based court-supervised program where they work with a multidisciplinary team to address criminogenic risk factors that often lead to continued involvement in the criminal justice system. Coconino county is applying for priority area 1A toaddress racial and ethnic inequities and contribute to greater access to services and opportunities for communities, specifically native american communities, that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, crime, violence, victimization, and the criminal justice system. In addition, the proposal centers on the programmatic priority to promote effective strategies to expand the use of mental health courts and related services. There are no planned conference activities for the recommended award.