Concerned Fairfax
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement (CJLE) Subcommittee
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement (CJLE) Subcommittee
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Statement of Purpose: Individuals living with mental health conditions may need special consideration and support. We seek to help improve outcomes for individuals living with mental health conditions who become involved with our law enforcement or criminal justice systems.
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CJLE Subcommittee Meeting
Day/Time: new day/time tba Location: new location tba |
OUR IMPACT
Four Concerned Fairfax members--Daria Akers, Claudette Pilger, Bob Cluck, and Gary Ambrose--are also members of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Policy Review Commission's CIT and Mental Health Subcommittee. Bob is also one of the Commissioners who were appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. The four have been actively assisting the subcommittee to focus on key issues associated with individuals with mental health issues who come in contact with law enforcement. The subcommittee's recommendations were submitted to the Ad Hoc Commission in August. The Commission's findings will be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in the Fall.
The LECJ subcommittee members have been vocal advocates for development of a more robust jail diversion program in Fairfax County. This program will offer Fairfax County police officers an alternative to incarcerating persons with mental illness or substance use disorder who commit non-felony offenses. Such offenders would be taken to a Community Services Board (CSB) facility for treatment versus being taken to jail. A member of the LECJ subcommittee accompanied the Fairfax County Sheriff and the CSB Executive Director and a number of Fairfax County law enforcement officials to San Antonio, Texas, in July to benchmark the Bexar County Jail Diversion Program. Bexar County's program is widely considered one of the best in the nation. The purpose of the visit was to observe what works well in Bexar County so that Fairfax County might institute like programs here.
LECJ subcommittee members are also actively advocating for institution of a Mental Health Docket in the Fairfax County court system. Current County efforts are focused on identifying a judge to sponsor the initiative.
LECJ subcommittee members have been strong supporters of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) (Memphis model) training for police officers. LECJ also advocates for new and expanded training about mental health for others involved in all aspects of the justice system. The FC Police Chief has established a goal of CIT training for 100 percent of his officers. In addition, all recruits, as part of their Academy training, are now receiving enhanced training on mental health and how to respond to calls related to individuals with serious mental illness. Further, the Sheriff's Office is implementing training for all deputies on mental health, de-escalation, and other skills and humane tools tailored for the Corrections environment. Several LECJ members are participating in these programs or are involved in oversight of CIT and other initiatives. LECJ will continue to advocate for strong mental health training programs for other key participants in the justice system, including 911 Operators, Dispatchers, magistrates, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges.
The LECJ subcommittee has actively advocated for Fairfax County participation in the "Stepping Up" initiative--a national initiative to reduce the number of mentally ill persons in our jails. On July 2, 2015 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to support the initiative. The initiative provides tools and funding to help establish diversion programs, CIT training, and other programs targeted toward getting mentally ill persons treatment versus incarceration.
Gordon Dean, a Concerned Fairfax member, has opened a dialog with the Sheriff's staff to gather data on persons with mental health issues who enter the County Adult Detention Center (ADC)--the jail. The objective is to use the data to help the ADC staff and CSB provide meaningful services to those persons, both while incarcerated and at release.
The "What To Do If Your Family Member with a Mental Health Condition Is Arrested" booklet, shepherded by Pam Herbert and Joanna Walker, is currently undergoing final review. It will be posted to the NAMI Northern Virginia website and distributed by other means in the Fall.
Jeanne Comeau, an LECJ member and President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Northern Virginia, is co-chair of the Fairfax County Reentry Council's Wellness and Mental Health & Substance Use Committee; several other CF members serve on this committee as well.
Gary Ambrose, chair of the LECJ subcommittee, was recently elected chair of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB).
In addition, LECJ members were recently appointed to the Diversion-Oriented System of Care Collaborative (DOSCC), a new stakeholder group endorsed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors which met for the first time in August, 2015. This "Diversion First" group seeks to address CIT training, diversion practices, assessment center implementation, and initiation of a mental health docket. In order to help reduce the number of people of people with mental illness who are incarcerated, reduce recidivism, and create opportunities for recovery, Diversion First will focus on developing an actionable plan through a multi-step planning process as well as ongoing oversight for implementation of that plan. LECJ member, Gary Ambrose, serves as chair.
The LECJ subcommittee members have been vocal advocates for development of a more robust jail diversion program in Fairfax County. This program will offer Fairfax County police officers an alternative to incarcerating persons with mental illness or substance use disorder who commit non-felony offenses. Such offenders would be taken to a Community Services Board (CSB) facility for treatment versus being taken to jail. A member of the LECJ subcommittee accompanied the Fairfax County Sheriff and the CSB Executive Director and a number of Fairfax County law enforcement officials to San Antonio, Texas, in July to benchmark the Bexar County Jail Diversion Program. Bexar County's program is widely considered one of the best in the nation. The purpose of the visit was to observe what works well in Bexar County so that Fairfax County might institute like programs here.
LECJ subcommittee members are also actively advocating for institution of a Mental Health Docket in the Fairfax County court system. Current County efforts are focused on identifying a judge to sponsor the initiative.
LECJ subcommittee members have been strong supporters of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) (Memphis model) training for police officers. LECJ also advocates for new and expanded training about mental health for others involved in all aspects of the justice system. The FC Police Chief has established a goal of CIT training for 100 percent of his officers. In addition, all recruits, as part of their Academy training, are now receiving enhanced training on mental health and how to respond to calls related to individuals with serious mental illness. Further, the Sheriff's Office is implementing training for all deputies on mental health, de-escalation, and other skills and humane tools tailored for the Corrections environment. Several LECJ members are participating in these programs or are involved in oversight of CIT and other initiatives. LECJ will continue to advocate for strong mental health training programs for other key participants in the justice system, including 911 Operators, Dispatchers, magistrates, prosecutors, public defenders, and judges.
The LECJ subcommittee has actively advocated for Fairfax County participation in the "Stepping Up" initiative--a national initiative to reduce the number of mentally ill persons in our jails. On July 2, 2015 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to support the initiative. The initiative provides tools and funding to help establish diversion programs, CIT training, and other programs targeted toward getting mentally ill persons treatment versus incarceration.
Gordon Dean, a Concerned Fairfax member, has opened a dialog with the Sheriff's staff to gather data on persons with mental health issues who enter the County Adult Detention Center (ADC)--the jail. The objective is to use the data to help the ADC staff and CSB provide meaningful services to those persons, both while incarcerated and at release.
The "What To Do If Your Family Member with a Mental Health Condition Is Arrested" booklet, shepherded by Pam Herbert and Joanna Walker, is currently undergoing final review. It will be posted to the NAMI Northern Virginia website and distributed by other means in the Fall.
Jeanne Comeau, an LECJ member and President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Northern Virginia, is co-chair of the Fairfax County Reentry Council's Wellness and Mental Health & Substance Use Committee; several other CF members serve on this committee as well.
Gary Ambrose, chair of the LECJ subcommittee, was recently elected chair of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB).
In addition, LECJ members were recently appointed to the Diversion-Oriented System of Care Collaborative (DOSCC), a new stakeholder group endorsed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors which met for the first time in August, 2015. This "Diversion First" group seeks to address CIT training, diversion practices, assessment center implementation, and initiation of a mental health docket. In order to help reduce the number of people of people with mental illness who are incarcerated, reduce recidivism, and create opportunities for recovery, Diversion First will focus on developing an actionable plan through a multi-step planning process as well as ongoing oversight for implementation of that plan. LECJ member, Gary Ambrose, serves as chair.
