Grassley Lauds Senate Passage Of Legislation Reauthorizing Justice And Mental Health Collaboration Programs

From June 27, 2022  post.

Last week, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is an original cosponsor of the proposal and helped usher it through committee in May, where it advanced unanimously. The programs funded by this legislation have helped law enforcement assist individuals experiencing mental illness since Grassley helped pass the original bill in 2004.

 

“I’ve been a longtime supporter of the successful and effective initiatives in this bill, including mental health courts, crisis intervention teams and training for law enforcement. Encouraging treatment and supporting those struggling with mental health challenges in the criminal justice system is critical for protecting public safety and supporting our police officers. Advancing this legislation also improves outcomes for these individuals, and I’m optimistic that the House will follow suit so we can quickly get this bill signed into law,” Grassley said.

 

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and make several improvements to provide grantees with greater options to respond and treat individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The bill would:

 

• Support mental health courts and veterans treatment programs;
• Support programs that offer specialized training for public safety officers and mental health providers;
• Support co-responder teams that deploy mental health professionals with law enforcement and allow a 24/7, 365 response capability;
• Enhance community capacity and linkage to care systems to ensure continuity of care and connection to mental health and substance use disorder crisis services;
• And allow jurisdictions to integrate suicide prevention programs in jails and detention facilities.

Grassley helped introduce the reauthorization with Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) are also cosponsors of the legislation.

In 2004, the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) created the JMHCP to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. JMHCP grants have funded mental health courts and other court-based initiatives, diversion and deflection programs, crisis intervention teams, training for local police departments and other programs to improve outcomes for people with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. JMHCP has provided a total of 568 grants to 49 states along with the District of Columbia.

Original source can be found here