Forensic Services - Mental Health and Criminal Justice
The interface between the mental health and criminal justice systems is significant. The increased involvement of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system has become an important problem. Law enforcement, courts, jails and prisons have joined with consumers and family members in seeking relief from this troublesome situation.
Areas of Focus
The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) collaborates with its constituencies to develop policies, propose programs, assist with legislation and provide consultation, education and training in the following areas:
Community Linkage – Links severely mentally ill offenders to community mental health services upon release from state prisons
Community Forensic Monitoring – Ensures people with mental illness have a successful transition from the hospital to the community; that effective risk management procedures are implemented by community providers and that prompt re-hospitalization, re-institutionalization or detention occurs when public safety necessitates this level of care
Forensic Evaluation Services – Conducts high quality court-ordered evaluations in the most efficient manner possible to protect the needs of people with mental illness or mental retardation who become involved in the criminal justice system
Reentry Services – Works collaboratively with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Office of Criminal Justice Services, Supreme Court of Ohio and other agencies to support reentry services in the areas of housing, benefits, treatment, forensic peer specialists, employment, trauma-informed care and medication provision for people leaving jails, prisons and regional psychiatric hospitals in a forensic status
Diversion Alternatives – Provides technical assistance to local collaborative efforts focused on diverting people with mental illness from the criminal justice system and decreasing jail days. ODMH funds the Criminal Justice Coordinating Center of Excellence which promotes the Memphis model Crisis Intervention Team approach to diversion as well as the development of mental health courts
Hospital and Community Services – Works collaboratively to assure quality services are provided to people with a forensic status in regional psychiatric hospitals and those involved in the criminal justice system in the community. Provides technical assistance and clarification on forensic issues to the regional psychiatric hospitals, county boards, criminal justice system and community providers. Maintains hospital and community policies and guidelines focused on people in a forensic status, communicates issues through a quarterly Forensic Newsletter, and holds an annual forensic conference