Implementing the Illinois Courts Mental Health Action Plan

Courts are in a unique position to lead change. By following the recommendations and using the resources developed by the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts' Response to Mental Illness and the Illinois Courts' Mental Health Task Force Action Plan, Courts can bring communities together to communicate, collaborate, and improve public health and safety.

The Illinois Courts Mental Health Task Force Action Plan includes tangible recommendations specific to the following activities:

• Courts as Conveners and Leaders
• Training Opportunities Across Intercepts
• Awareness Across Intercepts
• Intercepts Zero and One - Community Services and Law Enforcement
• Intercept Two - Initial Detention and Court Hearings
• Intercept Three - Jails/Courts
• Intercept Four - Reentry
• Intercept Five - Community Corrections

While the Action Plan serves as an initial roadmap for improving the community, court, and justice system response to individuals living with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, it is not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive. The recommendations can be used to formulate more specific goals, objectives, and responses that can be pursued by individual stakeholders and systems.

For more information, contact Scott Block, State Court Behavioral Health Administrator, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts at [email protected]