Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition

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.

Downloads

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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. Read more about Welcoming Alex Cogan as Criminal Justice Intern

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Dec 30, 2015
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Houston Chronicle

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

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