Mental illness is not a crime, yet individuals with mental illness are disproportionately impacted by our nation’s criminal justice system and overrepresented in jails and prisons. About two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness. NAMI’s Trends in Mental Health and Criminal Justice State Policy explores how state policymakers and advocates can address this problem through legislation.
This issue brief offers state legislators and advocates policy recommendations and examples of legislation that supports individuals with mental health conditions who are at risk of being or are justice system-involved. Recommendations are provided in the following key categories:
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