It is estimated that more than two million arrests in the United States each year involve people with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI) – half of which are homeless at the time of their arrest.
Jails have become places where a disproportionate number of people with SMI spend significant amounts of time; their ties to the community severed, their treatment needs unmet, and their illnesses made worse.
But it doesn't have to be that way - This episode dives into a system that works, saves money, and helps those it used to harm.
Judge Steve Leifman is the Associate Administrative Judge of the Miami-Dade County Court Criminal Division.
He will discuss his journey into the mental health system, the legal and medical history that led to America’s mental health crisis and the essential elements necessary to create an effective system of care that ultimately will transform the mental health and criminal justice systems and make jail the last option for people with serious mental illnesses, not the first.
Links:
The 11th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Project was featured on the cover of Governing Magazine - August 2015 edition.
http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-miami-mental-health-jail.html
The Definition of Insanity – PBS Documentary (April 14, 2020)
https://doifilm.com/
Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery Website:
https://miamifoundationformentalhealth.org/
Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ)/ Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness Report and Recommendations
https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/84469/MHTF_State_Courts_Leading_Change.pdf
Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/
Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/
Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/
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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman