Behavioral health
Providing crucial resources and support from experienced court professionals and behavioral health experts.
Intersection of behavioral health & the courts
Many times, managing behavioral health issues requires creativity, new and specialized knowledge, and multi-disciplinary and multi-agency collaboration. Backed by experienced academics and practitioners, we shape many national and state supreme court behavioral health initiatives playing out in local courthouses, treatment facilities, jails and communities today. Many courts are finding success in implementing the recommendations outlined in the SJI-funded National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts' Response to Mental Illness final report and recommendations, "State Courts Leading Change."
Supporting mental health diversion from the bench
Understand how courts and judges can promote and implement diversion strategies for individuals with behavioral health needs in their communities using our guides.
Understanding competency
Courts face growing competency backlogs driven by limited evaluation and treatment resources, staffing shortages, and the growing use of the competency process as a default response to mental illness in criminal cases.
Advancing statewide behavioral health strategies
Supported by NCSC, state court behavioral health leaders meet annually to share emerging practices, address system challenges, and advance effective responses at the intersection of behavioral health and state courts.
Partnering in the Judges & Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI)
NCSC, along with the Council of State Governments Justice Center and American Psychiatric Association Foundation, is working to stimulate, support, and enhance efforts by judges and psychiatrists to improve judicial, community, and systemic responses to people with behavioral health needs who are involved in the justice system.
Gain insights from our team of experts
Our extensive work in behavioral health informs best practices and guidance shared with courts across the country.
Explore more
Implementation in action: Advancing state court behavioral health strategies
The National Council of State Court Behavioral Health Administrators brought together state court behavioral health leaders to share emerging practices, address system challenges, and advance effective responses at the intersection of behavioral health and state courts on Aug. 4-5 in Indianapolis.
Uncovering myths, realities & emerging practices in mental health courts
Additional guidance is needed to address the significant increase in mental health treatment courts across the United States and the realities of serving individuals with serious mental illness.