Mental Illness & CJ Admin

According to best estimates, there are presently 10 times more Americans housed in jails and prisons than our nation’s mental health facilities. As such, our criminal justice system is increasingly tasked with providing services to these individuals. Criminal justice practitioners need to be better equipped to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness. This course will facilitate students’ understanding of the nature and extent of mental illness in our society, including the significant impact of deinstitutionalization on the criminal justice system. Justice-involved interactions with people with mental illness will be discussed with particular focus on best practices for diversion, prevention, response, and treatment. Finally, this course will examine potential ways to improve the criminal justice system response to mental illness.