The NCJFCJ understands that, in many jurisdictions, once a person with a mental illness enters the criminal justice system he or she faces distinct hurdles. First, judges don’t always recognize a person with a mental illness who appears before them and the opportunity for early intervention is often lost. Second, law enforcement is not trained to deal with people with mental health or co-occurring disorders. Third, the overall justice system is not generally accustomed to altering their process and collaborating with other agencies in order to manage these defendants appropriately.
The NCJFCJ has partnered with other organizations to combat the challenges facing both justice professionals and families and youth involved in the juvenile justice system around mental health issues.