Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System

Catalog description

An exploration of the intersection of the mental health and criminal justice systems in the United States. The primary theme is the deinstitutionalization movement which has resulted in the shifting of persons with mental illness from hospitals into correctional facilities. Important topics include school-to-prison pipeline (STPP), civil and outpatient commitment, police as first responders, training for law enforcement responding to crisis situations, and other efforts to decrease criminalization and stigmatization, such as Crisis Intervention Teams, Mental Health Courts, Assertive Community Treatment, and reentry strategies. Engagement and innovative policy solutions are required from students.