Bill Overview
Title: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2026 the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. The program provides state, local, and tribal grants to improve the criminal justice system's response to people with mental health disorders. Among the modifications, the bill allows funds for diversion and alternative prosecution and sentencing programs to be used for training for state and local prosecutors related to diversion programs; allows funds for multidisciplinary teams to be used to support police officers and mental health crisis workers responding together to mental health calls; and allows grants to be awarded for additional purposes such as suicide prevention programs and services, case management services, and state and local implementation of the 988 suicide hotline. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the requirement for the Department of Justice to examine and report on the prevalence of mentally ill offenders in prisons and jails.
Sponsors: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People with mental health disorders involved in the criminal justice system
Estimated Size: 11000000
- The bill impacts individuals with mental health disorders who come in contact with the criminal justice system, which means both potential offenders and individuals who might be subject to alternative prosecution or sentencing programs.
- The bill also impacts mental health crisis workers and police officers due to the provision for multidisciplinary teams responding to mental health calls.
- It also affects individuals who may benefit from suicide prevention programs and the 988 suicide hotline, as the bill includes provisions for grants related to these services.
Reasoning
- The policy targets individuals with mental health disorders who interact with the criminal justice system, a population that includes people arrested or incarcerated, as well as those who might benefit from diversion or alternative sentencing programs.
- Police officers and mental health crisis workers are directly impacted by the establishment of multidisciplinary teams to handle mental health calls.
- The policy is expected to decrease the incidence of suicide and improve mental health management through enhanced services, training, and new hotline support.
- Not everyone in the target population will be directly impacted, but rather those within state and local jurisdictions that receive grants as per the bill's budgetary limits.
- The wellbeing scores depend on the policy's successful implementation, which is challenging due to its wide reach and ambitious goals against its funding limitations.
Simulated Interviews
Mental Health Crisis Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might provide much-needed resources for us to operate more effectively alongside the police during crisis calls.
- I see potential for a significant positive impact on our ability to de-escalate situations and possibly reduce arrests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Police Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integration with mental health professionals can help in effectively managing crisis calls.
- The additional training could help reduce our reliance on arrests as a solution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Defender (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide better alternatives for my clients than incarceration.
- It’s important that prosecutors are trained to recognize when diversion is appropriate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Prosecutor (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's training elements can enhance our understanding of diversion programs.
- It may lead to more humane and effective approaches for mentally ill offenders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Social Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- New grants can help provide necessary post-release support services.
- I hope this begins addressing the systemic issues leading to repeat incarcerations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Individual undergoing alternative prosecution (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s reassuring to know that I might receive support that's not punitive.
- This could help me stay on track rather than back into the system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Mental Health Advocate (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can partially bridge critical gaps in mental health support within the criminal justice system.
- Sustainability and reaching underfunded areas remain concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Individual in suicide prevention volunteer program (Detroit, MI)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 25.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on suicide prevention and the hotline will save lives like mine.
- Increased awareness and resources are vital to prevention efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired Police Chief (Boston, MA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Long-term impacts of this policy hinge on effective, sustained funding and implementation.
- I've seen the difference collaboration can make, the policy is encouraging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater accessibility to mental health resources can prevent issues escalating to legal problems.
- The 988 hotline looks like a promising resource for people in challenging situations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 3: $40000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $45000000)
Year 5: $45000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $50000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Successful implementation relies on state and local cooperation with federal guidance.
- Studies constantly show cost savings from preventive care outweigh incarceration costs but depend on effective execution.
- Cultural and systemic changes required in justice and mental health systems to efficiently implement crisis intervention and diversion programs.