Fund drug court programs and mental health courts

Every year, almost 2 million people living with a mental health condition enter into jails or prisons. Once in jail, they are two times more likely to remain confined than others facing the same conviction.[2]

To reduce the number of people with mental health and substance use disorders in the criminal legal system, Congress should provide funding and support to drug court programs that offer substance use treatment and services, including relapse prevention, health care, education, vocational training, job placement, housing placement, and child care.[3][4] Congress should also provide appropriations for mental health courts that train law enforcement and others in the criminal legal system to assess the needs of individuals with mental illness, and connect them with treatment plans and social services, including skills training.[5][6] To ensure proper funding and support for these mental health courts, Congress should eliminate the current restrictions on Department of Justice grant funding, which is currently capped at 100 programs.[5]