Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition

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The Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition came together in September 2014 to address the high rates of criminal justice involvement for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Focusing on state level policies, the Coalition includes mental health and criminal justice advocates who are committed to reducing criminal justice involvement for this population and creating policy solutions that promote wellness and recovery.

Members include:

American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
Matt Simpson, Policy Strategist
Center for Public Policy Priorities
Katharine Ligon, Mental Health Policy Analyst
National Alliance on Mental Illness Texas
Greg Hansch, Public Policy Director
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
Douglas Smith, Policy Analyst
Mental Health America of Texas
Gyl Switzer, Public Policy Director
Texas Jail Project
Diana Claitor, Executive Director
Grassroots Leadership
Cate Graziani, Mental Health Campaigns Coordinator		  

Contact information: Cate Graziani, cgraziani@grassrootsleadership.org

Report

The Treatment Industrial Complex: How For-Profit Prison Corporations are Undermining Efforts to Treat and Rehabilitate Prisoners for Corporate Gain, Co-Published with Caroline Issacs (American Friends Service Committee) and Southern Center for Human Rights, November 2014.

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Related Posts

Welcoming Alex Cogan as Criminal Justice Intern

January 26, 2018 by Cate Graziani

Grassroots Leadership is excited to welcome Alex Cogan as a Criminal Justice Intern for the 2018 spring semester. Alex is earning her Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in administration and policy practice at The University of Texas at Austin. She has focused much of her graduate school research on criminal justice reform, having interned at the Travis County Correctional Complex. As a social work intern at the jail, she had the opportunity to work closely and build relationships with incarcerated individuals. [node:read-more:link]

Welcome Latasha Taylor, our new Mental Health Organizer!

July 12, 2016 by Cate Graziani

We are happy to welcome Latasha Taylor to the Grassroots Leadership Criminal Justice team as our new Mental Health Organizer!  Through a two-year Peer Policy Fellowship from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Latasha will be supporting the work of the Justice and Mental Health Coalition and Texas Advocates for Justice. [node:read-more:link]

Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition Visits Bexar County

May 23, 2016 by Cate Graziani

On Wednesday May 11th, members of the Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition visited  San Antonio, TX to learn more about Bexar County’s jail diversion programs. Hosted by the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), the group met with program administrators, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and representatives from mental health and judicial services of Bexar County. [node:read-more:link]

Dec 30, 2015
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Houston Chronicle

Graziani, Smith: Better state jail oversight can curb suicides

All too frequently, we have seen what happens when public institutions, from state agencies to public schools, lack independent, external oversight. They fail to achieve the efficiency that comes from increased transparency, and often identify abuses far too late. Texas has implemented external oversight for the state's juvenile correctional system, but TDCJ continues to operate the largest prison system of any state without independent oversight.

Texas must acknowledge its duty to protect the rights and well being of those under the supervision of its state agencies. Implementing external oversight of the adult corrections system will help policymakers and agency staff create safe environments for those who live and work in prisons and state jails, with benefits to units, Texas communities and families. [node:read-more:link]

Read the Full Article

The year in review: 15 highlights of 2015 at Grassroots Leadership!

December 21, 2015 by Rebecca Sanchez

Massive march in Dilley, Texas to #EndFamillyDetention!

As we finish up 2015, we thought we’d reflect on the year at Grassroots Leadership.  We’ve had a terrific year of work and it couldn’t have been possible without the hard work and support of our staff, board, volunteers, allies, and donors.  Please consider making a donation to help our work continue in 2016.  Thank you, we couldn’t do it without you! [node:read-more:link]