CCJBH recently released their 2019
CCJBH Annual Report. The report provides eighteen findings
and recommendations specific to those with complex needs,
including individuals in the juvenile justice system and those
who are experience homelessness. In addition, CCJBH embarked on
several new projects to provide additional insight on best
practices to reduce incarceration, including recidivism. Project
activities are described in the Project Update section of the
report that also includes identified next steps for 2020.
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 re-entry strategies. To read the
report in its entirety, please clickhere.
Additionally, CCJBH’s recently released their
Housing Policy Brief. Through statewide in-person workshops
with experts, face-to-face meetings, research on critical issues
and best practices CCJBH developed recommendations for state and
local action to improve housing outcomes for the justice-involved
with behavioral health issues for policy makers’ consideration.
In the brief, CCJBH identifies five broad strategies accompanied
with detailed recommendations for state and local action.
These strategies are:
1. Support the expansion of housing and housing assistance
options.
2. Support housing best practices for the justice-involved with
behavioral health challenges.
3. Commit to addressing underlining poverty.
4. Create equitable housing assistance opportunities and combat
housing discrimination.
5. Link the criminal justice system to the homeless crisis
response system and facilitate coordination, collaboration and
commitment among system and service partners.
Also, the report discusses in more depth some of the critical and
timely issues associated with each of the above strategies.
To read the report in its entirety, please clickhere.
