Michelle O’Brien

Michelle O'Brien applies evidence-based principles to lead implementation of and long-term sustainability planning for criminal justice, justice system, and behavioral health initiatives.

O'Brien staffed the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Court Responses to Mental Illness and has guided many collaborations between justice and behavioral health partners. 

Her 30 years of experience includes work as executive director of the Illinois Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Justice, where she provided local and statewide training and technical assistance to improve program designs, policies, and case processing for jurisdictions working with justice-involved persons with behavioral health disorders. She's also served as a treatment courts administrator and an assistant state attorney in Winnebago County, Ill.

O'Brien received her juris doctor from Drake University Law School and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Simpson College.