Mental Health Courts from A to Z

CSG Justice Center Training Curriculum Blends Online Learning, Live Activities

By Jacqueline Cheney, CSG Justice Center Policy Analyst

Research shows people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use issues enter local jails three to six times more often than the general population.

That creates a challenge for the nation’s criminal courts.

“The cycling of individuals with mental illnesses through our criminal justice system is a critical issue with implications for public safety, health and expenditures, not to mention the lives of millions across the country,” said Ruby Qazilbash, associate deputy director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice.

The use of mental health courts, which combine mental health and, often, substance use treatment with court supervision, is a popular approach to address this issue. Some 300 jurisdictions have launched new programs since 2000. Nearly every state has a mental health court.

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