On April 17th, 2024, The National Research Center announced a call for papers from national experts in criminal justice and forensic psychology to address the growth of incarceration in the U.S., and trend known as “The Criminalization of Persons with Mental Illness.
Congratulations, you have been selected to submit a White Paper entitled: “Innovations in Problem-Solving Justice and Behavioral Health Across the Sequential Intercept Model.”
This White Paper will provide a multi-level roadmap for local governments, and community-based (private/public) stakeholders to work collaboratively to reduce the growth of incarceration of persons with mental illness, and or behavioral health disorders (i.e., co-occurring substance use disorders.) The National Research Center is asking for you to consider the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on law enforcement, and first responders in terms of exposure to trauma and need for innovative strategies on suicide prevention.
White Paper Criteria: The White Paper may focus on the juvenile justice or the criminal justice system (select one) and shall include the following:
a) You must include a Title Page with your name, and your White Paper must be properly formatted with captions, numbered paragraphs, and white space.
b) All authoritative references must use APA Citations.
1. You must include a brief abstract or Opening Statement of your White Paper: describing the scope of the problem, based upon your research with supportive data, and why new strategies are necessary to respond to the trend of the criminalization of persons with mental illness.
1.a. Please include a discussion on the impact of mental health stigma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Social Determinants of Mental Health in your opening statement; together with the need to reduce disparities.
2. Seeking Solutions: Based on the Sequential Intercept Model (See below for SIM Tool) you must describe specific models or programs intended to prevent and/or divert persons from incarcerated settings for each intercept (0-5) across the SIM Tool.
2.a. (These models must identify a specified problem-solving/diversionary TJ models, initiatives, or programs, and must include community, law enforcement, courts, schools, community corrections, or health care system based.)
3. Your White Paper must include a brief overview of the evolution of specialized Problem-Solving Courts and identify how these courts differ from traditional courts.
3.a. Please discuss the application of the concept of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, and the theory and elements of procedural justice.
4. Your White Paper must include a brief discussion on the current flux in community policing, and (in your own words) provide an overview of the Consensus Points summarized in the Future of Public Safety Report, published by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and National Organization of Black Law enforcement Executives. (2020). Please briefly discuss the national 988 Crisis Hotline systems, and how the 988 system is intended to transform the current mental health system of care.
5. Please close with your personal vision of a re-imagined JJ or CJ system from a behavioral health trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented focus. Please include a brief discussion on the application of the Kotter 8-Step Leading Change Model to fulfill this vision.
