This project would not have been possible without the generous advice and support of many stakeholders across the state of California. We wish to honor the special expertise of those with lived experience in the criminal justice and behavioral health systems for their valuable and important contributions to the project. Numerous local policymakers from criminal justice, behavioral health, and housing shared their experiences and hopes for policy and data in this area. At the state level, policymakers from many agencies shared their own work collecting and analyzing data in this area, as well as their experiences in sharing data across departments. In particular, we would like to thank the Stepping Up California partners who have provided input on this project throughout its duration.
This project was a close collaboration between teams from the Council of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and a small group of expert consultants with decades of experience working on this issue in California. It also builds on important work led by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) seeding funding for local data collection and analysis and supporting the stakeholder interviews.
Project Credits
Writing and Research
- Dr. Mia Bird
- Hallie Fader-Towe, CSG Justice Center
- Joseph Hayashi, CSG Justice Center
- Kevin O’Connell
- Elizabeth Siggins
- Dr. Rosemary White Shield, CSG Justice Center
Advising
- Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey, CSG Justice Center
- Joshua Mallett, CSG Justice Center
Editing
- Katy Albis, CSG Justice Center
- Dr. Dion Clark, CSG Justice Center
- Leslie Griffin, CSG Justice Center
Web Development
- Catherine Allary, CSG Justice Center
- Eleventy marketing group
About CCBJH
Established by California Penal Code Section 6044(a), the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH) is a 12-member council chaired by the Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and is comprised of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), and appointed expert representatives from the criminal justice and behavioral health fields such as probation, court officers, and mental health care professionals. CCJBH serves as a resource to assist and advise the administration and legislature on best practices to reduce the incarceration of youth and adults with mental illness and substance use disorders (SUDs) with a focus on prevention, diversion, and reentry strategies.
About The Council of State Governments Justice Center
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that combines the power of a membership association, representing state officials in all three branches of government, with policy and research expertise to develop strategies that increase public safety and strengthen communities.