justice involvement resources
People with mental illness deserve help, not handcuffs. Yet people with mental illness are overrepresented in our nation’s jails and prisons. All people with mental health conditions who have interacted with the justice system deserve access to quality mental health treatment and the supports they need to lead fulfilling lives. The below resources have been curated in support of justice involved individuals, and to enable communities to expand and improve access to mental health care.
Local & National Resources
Educational Resources
Local & National Resources
- FindTreatment.gov – SAMHSA is a confidential resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States.
- The National Reentry Resource Center is the nation’s primary source of information and guidance in reentry.
- The Clean Slate Clearinghouse provides people with juvenile and adult criminal records, legal service providers, and state policymakers with information on record clearance policies in all U.S. states and territories.
- NH Drug & Mental Health Courts are specialty court programs for offenders with substance abuse or mental health diagnoses. By linking offenders to treatment services, the program aims to address offender’s substance abuse and mental health diagnoses that led to criminal behavior, thereby reducing recidivism.
- Community Reentry – NH Department of Corrections provides education, training, skills, spirituality, and personal development opportunities to prepare residents for re-entry to the community.
- Family Support – NH Department of Corrections strengthens the connection between parents who are incarcerated and their families while facilitating ties to their communities through education and support.
- Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for Police/Fire/EMS highlights best practices, improves community partnerships, and helps communities develop processes to serve people affected by mental illness with respect and dignity.
- The Stepping Up initiative supports local jurisdictions in establishing and reaching measurable goals that demonstrate reduced prevalence of serious mental illness across the justice system.
- Providing Support for Reentry for Formerly Incarcerated – CDC provides resources that can be used by public health departments, correctional facilities, transitional living facilities, and community-based organizations to improve the health of persons being released from incarceration, as well as improve the health of their communities.
Educational Resources
- Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System – NAMI
- Justice Library – NAMI
- The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center develops research-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities.
- NAMI Ask the Expert: Help Not Handcuffs is a webinar series focused on addressing mental health crises with comprehensive community responses.
- Persons with SMI In the Criminal Justice System: Resources – American Psychiatric Nurses Association provides an overview of the issue, current practices and recommendations, transitioning from incarceration to the community, and recommendations for incarceration alternatives.
Please note: The resources included here are not endorsed by NAMI NH, and NAMI NH is not responsible for the content of or service provided by any of these resources.
