Virginia is creating a new Center for Behavioral Health and Justice under an executive directive signed by Governor McAuliffe. Its mission is to foster better interagency collaboration and help coordinate services in the state’s behavioral health system. The focus will be on individuals with mental illness who become involved with the criminal justice system.
State officials have long said that thousands of people with mental illnesses have had encounters with law enforcement and have ended up in jails and prisons. The governor said the new Center will help bridge the gap between behavioral health and criminal justice agencies, as well as the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
“The Center shall pursue a collaborative, multi-systems approach in the following areas: (1) data collection and analytics; (2) evidence-based programs and practices; (3) education, outreach, and training; and (4) technical assistance and resource development.”
An Executive Leadership Council will develop the organizational and implementation plan by July 1st. McAuliffe made the announcement during the final meeting of his Task Force for Improving Mental Health Services and Crisis Response.
