Bill Overview
Title: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This act expands the allowable use of grants under 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 provisions, the act 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 act reauthorizes through FY2027 the requirement for the Department of Justice to examine and report on the prevalence of mentally ill offenders in prisons and jails.
Sponsors: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: People with mental health disorders and related criminal justice interactions
Estimated Size: 57000000
- The bill targets people with mental health disorders who interact with the criminal justice system.
- It aims to provide better responses and services for these individuals, including diversion and alternative prosecution programs.
- The inclusion of funding for police and mental health crisis worker collaboration directly benefits those experiencing mental health crises.
- Suicide prevention, case management, and support services imply that the target includes people at risk of or dealing with severe mental health issues, including those at risk of suicide.
- The bill's scope covers the United States as it involves federal legislation reauthorizing funding for various state and local programs.
Reasoning
- This policy primarily targets individuals with mental health disorders who frequently interact with the criminal justice system. This includes a wide range of people, from those experiencing severe mental health crises to those dealing with long-term mental illness.
- The policy includes multiple approaches: training for prosecutors to aid diversion programs, collaboration between police and mental health workers, and expanding support services like the 988 suicide hotline. This multi-faceted approach may influence wellbeing differently across individuals depending on their specific needs and interactions with the justice system.
- Given the policy focuses on improving mental health responses within the criminal justice system, interviews should include both those who might benefit from more compassionate responses during crises and those whose long-term outcomes could change with improved support and diversion programs.
- This $750 million policy over 10 years will serve a small fraction of the overall population (estimated at around 57 million people potentially affected each year), so it should be impactful yet well-targeted.
- A diverse representation across different regions, occupations, and levels of interaction with the justice system should be considered in these interviews to capture a broad spectrum of potential impacts.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel like the system just doesn't understand people like me.
- I've had run-ins with the law mostly because I wasn't getting the right treatment at the right time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
School Counselor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen firsthand how much of a difference a little support can make.
- Anything that helps divert people away from a jail environment is a step in the right direction.
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 |
Correctional Officer (Rural West Virginia)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need way more training and resources to deal with inmates with mental health issues.
- The current system just cycles people in and out without solving root problems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Graduate Student (New York City, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing training and collaboration is a logical step towards meaningful reform.
- The policy might reduce the stigma associated with mental health in criminal justice settings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been part of too many families seeing loved ones caught in this revolving door of jail and back.
- This policy sounds like it could finally address the issue at its core.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Police Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need more support and training when dealing with mental health crises.
- The policy could improve my job performance and personal stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Artist (Portland, OR)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The police need to be more understanding during mental health episodes.
- I feel like this policy is a big agreement toward humane treatment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Defender (Dallas, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Diversion programs have been understaffed and underfunded for too long.
- This policy might turn the tide in handling cases more efficiently.
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 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Restaurant Manager (Detroit, MI)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any funding for mental health support in justice settings is essential.
- I believe this would provide critical help to families like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Mental Health Crisis Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The collaboration between mental health workers and police is crucial but underutilized.
- This policy could be a game changer for our operations.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 2: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 3: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 5: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 100: $75000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Key Considerations
- Long-term savings depend significantly on the effectiveness of the intervention programs in reducing recidivism.
- The cost estimates reflect both direct funding and expected administrative expenses required to support new and ongoing initiatives.