Words to Deeds is hosting a day long forum and reception
Wednesday, November 4, 2015, in Sacramento focusing on Changing
the Paradigm for criminal justice and mental health. This event
is designed to gather high ranking decision makers who
collaborate to develop and implement strategies in the criminal
justice and mental health systems. The forum will focus on
diversion programs that bridge the gaps while individuals are on
the road to recovery; an update on the Judicial Council’s Mental
Health Issues Implementation Task Force; the Stepping Up
Initiative which focuses on reducing the number of people with
mental illness in our jails; and sessions on Juvenile Justice,
MIOCR/best practices and harnessing political will.
Speakers will include Diane Cummins, Special Advisor to the
Governor who works on state and local realignment issues, Judge
Steve Leifman from the Council of State Government’s Judges’
Leadership Initiative and Bill Hodgman, a Deputy District
Attorney working on the criminal justice mental health project
for Los Angeles County.
Words to Deeds was created in 2003 to change the model of
criminal justice and mental health systems. It has provided a
unique forum that has evolved into a standard best practice for
creating a true shift in the relationship between criminal
justice and mental health by fostering a successful and ongoing
collaboration among courts, criminal justice agencies, mental
health professions, and governmental and nongovernmental
organizations.
