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Overview of Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative
5/19/2008

State Supreme Court chief justices are invited to apply to participate in the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a project coordinated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center with help from the National GAINS Center. Selected chief justices will receive technical assistance and a small amount of funding to establish a task force of state leaders that will address criminal justice/mental health issues in the state.

The task force is expected to develop a collaborative, statewide strategic plan, with concrete policy changes that can be enacted by the end of the year-long initiative. This project is a component of the Judges’ Criminal Justice/Mental Health Leadership Initiative (JLI). The Advisory Group that guides the JLI will help identify three to four states to participate.

In 2007, seven states were chosen for the initiative: California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Vermont. States that applied but were not selected are strongly encouraged to reapply in 2008.

Why should state supreme court chief justices become involved?

• Chief justices are uniquely positioned to stimulate collaboration among state government officials and community leaders and to encourage them to develop joint initiatives within the criminal justice/mental health systems.

• Chief justices can support and sustain the efforts of judges who have already begun to address these issues locally and encourage other judges to begin problem-solving initiatives in their own communities.

• The Conference of Chief Justices encouraged chief justices to take a leadership role in addressing criminal justice/mental health issues in a resolution passed by its members in January 2006. (http://ccj.ncsc.dni.us/MentalHealthResols.html)

What is required of the task force?

• The state Supreme Court’s chief justice or the justice appointed to lead the task force will take an active role in this initiative, including attendance at and participation in a policy forum in the fall.

• The chief justice will designate one person to coordinate the task force’s day-to-day activities and to serve as a lead contact for project staff.

• The chief justice will convene the task force on a regular basis, including at least one meeting before the policy forum. The group may also use conference calls to facilitate discussion but should strive to meet every two to three months at a minimum.

• At the forum, each task force will develop a preliminary draft plan that includes: (1) the issues on which the task force will initially focus, (2) the projected deliverables for the year, and (3) the governance structure for the task force, including how it will be staffed and supported throughout the duration of the initiative.

• Each task force will establish a cohesive structure that will support statewide initiatives to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system.

• The plan the task force designs and advances will build on any successes already achieved in the state (e.g., one county’s mental health court or an ongoing partnership between a police department and its local court), leverage other relevant efforts already underway, and improve policymakers’ understanding of criminal justice/mental health issues.

• The task force should be able to demonstrate concrete accomplishments approximately one year after its inception.  While the task force can develop longer-term strategies, at least some of the goals identified should be achievable in the indicated time period.

Initiative Timetable

• Applications are due to the Justice Center by July 11, 2008.

• The JLI Advisory Group will recommend three to four states to participate in July.

• The chief justice should convene the task force by the start of October to talk about the current status of criminal justice/mental health issues in the state and possible goals for the group.

Please visit the website for more information and to download an application.