Chair:
Dr. Margaret Reiland, Psychological Services, Denver County Jail
The purpose of the Mental Health Committee is to analyze and make recommendations for policies and programs to improve mental health and co-occurring disorder interventions, create system change, enhance inter-agency coordination and increase capacity within the current mental health system and practices. The Committee makes recommendations and provides oversight to Crime Prevention and Control funds for promising or evidence-based mental health programs and services that will reduce offender risk and recidivism. Some of the current work around the Mental Health Committee include: the match of offender mental health needs with referrals for treatment based on varying need levels, review and evaluation of mental health needs assessment tools, recommendations for mental health/substance abuse units in the Denver County Jail, and recommendations for behavioral health (mental health/substance abuse) reentry services. The Committee analyzes the current status and effectiveness of mental health initiatives and collaborates on solutions to case studies and current issues around offender mental health.