Illinois Courts Award $315,000 to Pilot Justice and Mental Health Collaborations in Circuits Around State

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced today that it has awarded $315,000 from a Bureau of Justice Assistance Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) Grant to implement and support Subrecipient Pilot Programs serving court-involved individuals in the Circuit Court of Cook County-CR 1706, Second Judicial Circuit, Third Judicial Circuit, Fourth Judicial Circuit, and Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. 

The JMHCP is a new court initiative developed and implemented with funding from the United States Department of Justice, in partnership with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) and the Illinois Supreme Court Mental Health Task Force (Task Force). The JMHCP supports partnerships to improve the court and community response to individuals with mental health and co-occurring mental health substance use related needs through a designated cross-system liaison. Liaisons serve court involved individuals with indications of mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. 

The JMHCPs are free, confidential, and voluntary court-based resources. Referrals may come from Court Staff, Probation Officers, Defense Counsel, and the State’s Attorney’s office. 
Individuals may also self-refer.

JMHCP Goals 
• Decrease risk of justice system involvement due to unmet mental health and co-occurring 
mental health/substance use related needs
• Increase engagement with treatment services and community resources 

JMHCP Objectives
• Increase screening of court-involved individuals with indications of mental health and co-occurring mental health/substance use related needs as they present in the court system 
• Increase access to short-term case management services and linkages

The JMHCPs are anticipated to begin January 1, 2023, and operate through the calendar year. 

The National Center for State Courts will be assisting the AOIC and Task Force in providing technical assistance and program evaluations.