Pennsylvania’s Story

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The CSG Justice Center partnered with state leaders in Pennsylvania in 2019 to conduct a comprehensive scan of state policy and funding opportunities at the intersection of behavioral health, criminal justice, and housing. The goal of this effort was twofold: (1) to equip state leaders with customized guidance to help communities address their most complex public health and safety problems and (2) to address critical gaps and barriers, such as lack of housing, that have long stymied large-scale progress in reducing the number of people with behavioral health needs in local criminal justice systems.

Starting with a thorough review of existing policies, The CSG Justice Center used a strong research base to pinpoint actions the state can take to set local jurisdictions on track for sustained reforms. Each step of the way, state and local leaders took the lead in directing the policy research process, ensuring that it’s in line with realities on the ground in their communities.  

Pennsylvania emerged with a tailored strategic plan for advancing public health and safety goals in partnership with local jurisdictions. As a result of this process, Pennsylvania leaders identified three priority areas to advance further progress:  

1. Improving local capacity to collect data and share information 

2. Increasing local diversion from arrest and incarceration as early as possible 

3. Increasing local availability of and connections to housing 

Learn more about Pennsylvania’s experience:

• Pennsylvania State Leaders ‘Step Up’ to Take on Locally Driven Policymaking
• Stepping Up Pennsylvania: Findings and Recommendations from the Behavioral Health-Criminal Justice State Policy Scan Project