Reports: Criminal Justice
One key vision for the Mental Health Transformation Project focuses on supporting recovery and resiliency by enabling better systemic transitions from one life condition to another, e.g., prisoners being paroled. In addition, ways to implement principles of least restrictive means are also encouraged, including diversion of individuals with SMI diagnoses from prisons and jails. The reports in this section examine results of these efforts.
- Expedited Medicaid Restoration for Persons with Mental Illness Released from Jails, Prisons and Hospitals
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217KB] - Mental Health Council Report [
190KB] - WASPC Gains Team Report [ 806KB]
- Using DSHS's Integrated Database to Examine Criminal Justice – Mental Health Issues [ 303KB]
- Implementation of SSB-5533 in Washington State Counties and Cities
[ 90KB]
Using DSHS's Integrated Database to Examine Criminal Justice – Mental Health Issues
Prepared under contract with the Mental Health Transformation Project, this report uses the DSHS integrated database to examine the patterns associated with increasing numbers of mentally ill persons in prison and jail populations. Washington State has responded in part with HB1290, which authorized expedited restoration of Medicaid benefits for incarcerated and hospitalized individuals, and a Prison Reentry initiative targeted at reducing currently high rates of recidivism. This report also presents preliminary findings about the impact of HB1290 and the community reentry of prisoners with mental illness.
The Mental Health Transformation Project contracted with the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training Eastern Branch at Washington State University in Spokane (WIMHRT East) to conduct the studies and reports below.
Disparities of Mental Health Services Between Urban and Rural Communities In Washington State
This report describes barriers to and apparent disparities in the receipt of mental health services in rural areas of Washington State. It includes a review of the literature and data from national, state and local sources. Washington is compared with neighboring states, and cultural issues related to the receipt of services are addressed. Results from interviews with providers and consumers are integrated throughout. The report concludes with policy recommendations.
Implementation of SSB-5533 in Washington State Counties and Cities
This report looks at the impact of SSB-5533 legislation, which allows local prosecutors and law enforcement officials to divert from the criminal justice system individuals who have committed non-serious and non-felony crimes if they are know to suffer from a mental disorder. It's based on a telephone survey of all counties and 14 cities in Washington State, along with support documents provided by key informants from police departments, mental health agencies, and court systems.
