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.
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.
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Judges & Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative honors behavioral health leaders
Judges' guide to adult mental health jargon
This resource was developed to help judges better understand mental health, more effectively communicate with individuals with mental health needs appearing before them, and provide insight on mental health to guide initiatives in their communities.
Judges' guide to youth mental health jargon
This overview of youth mental health jargon is intended to serve as a resource for judges who hear juvenile cases and who are involved in juvenile justice/mental health initiatives in their communities.