The Role of Mental Health Courts in System Reform (Jan. 2003) Jail Diversion 2006 MIOTCRA grantees (PDF) List of Bureau of Justice Assistance grant program SAMHSA jail-diversion grantees Application for SAMHSA jail-diversion grants, accepted until March 27, 2007

Jail Diversion Programs

A federally funded jail-diversion grant program for people with mental illnesses has been administered by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) since 2002. This Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE) Grant for Jail Diversion Programs is authorized under Section 520G of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

The program provides grants to states or localities to develop and implement programs to divert individuals with mental illnesses from the criminal justice system to mental health treatment and appropriate support services. Grant applicants need to demonstrate that the diversion program will be integrated with existing systems of care and that collaboration has occurred between the systems (criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse). They must also show that state-of-the-art community-based mental health services will be available to diverted individuals, including case management, assertive community treatment, medication management and access, integrated mental health and co-occurring substance abuse treatment, and psychiatric rehabilitation. These services must be coordinated with social services, including life-skills training, housing placement, vocational training, education, job placement and health care.
All applicants have to describe how they evaluate the program. Since the federal grant funds (up to 75% of program cost) can be used only to supplement existing state and local resources, applicants have to demonstrate that they could not fund such a program without federal assistance, and show plans to obtain support to sustain the program after federal funding has expired.
These grants could also be used to fund several activities that complement jail diversion programs, including:

• creation or expansion of community-based mental health and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse services to accommodate the diversion program;
• integration of the diversion program into an existing system of care;
• training for professionals involved in the system of care as well as law enforcement officers, attorneys and judges; and
• the provision of community outreach and crisis intervention services.

The jail diversion grant program was based on the coordination with the “Mental Health Court Grants Program” of the Department of Justice. However, the authorization for the Mental Health Courts Program at the Department of Justice has expired. SAMHSA is now working in collaboration with the Department of Justice on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act.
 
Grants distribution in FY2002

Grants distribution in FY2003

Grants distribution in FY2004

Grants distribution in FY2005

Grants distribution in FY2006

SAMHSA is now accepting applications for TCE grants for jail diversion programs for FY 2007. The deadline for applications is March 27, 2007. (For more information on the program, please see: http://www.gainscenter.samhsa.gov/html/tapa/CMHS/overview.asp)