Working to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illness and their families
NAMI Minnesota
800 Transfer Road, #31
Saint Paul, MN 55114
phone: 651-645-2948
toll free: 1-888-NAMI-HELPS
fax: 651-645-7379
email: nami-mn@nami.org
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NAMI Minnesota believes too many people with mental illnesses end up in the criminal justice system. NAMI advocates for public policy to enhance public safety and reduce the disproportionate contact of people with mental illnesses with the criminal justice system.
NAMI promotes several types of evidence-based programs and promising practices, including:
Prevention
Mobile crisis teams are made up of mental health professionals and are available statewide to respond when someone experiences a mental health crisis. These teams can replace or complement a law enforcement response. Find your local crisis resources
here.
*New legislative change* In 2009, NAMI helped pass a bill allowing 911 operators in Minnesota to send mobile crisis teams to the scene of a call.
Diversion
Diversion programs move people from the criminal justice system into treatment when appropriate. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is one form of diversion. CIT training is a 40-hour class that teaches law enforcement officers how to safely de-escalate a mental health crisis and connect people to local mental health resources. Visit the
Minnesota CIT Officer’s Association website for more information.
Mental health courts provide individuals whose criminal acts are driven by mental illness an opportunity to enter into court-supervised treatment instead of jail. Minnesota has one mental health court in
Hennepin County and one in
Ramsey County.
Training
NAMI trains corrections staff to recognize the symptoms of mental illnesses, de-escalate mental health crises, use Mental Health First Aid techniques and understand the mental health resources available to them in their line of work.
Reentry Supports
When individuals with serious mental illnesses reenter the community from jail or prison, they face major challenges in accessing treatment, housing, employment and other necessary resources. Discharge planning programs helps individuals arrange these resources before release from incarceration. A growing number of jails in the state have discharge planning programs, and Minnesota prisons provide release planning for inmates with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
There are many legislative changes that can help reduce employer discrimination and other barriers to re-entry. NAMI actively participates in the
Minnesota Second Chance Coalition, which advocates for legislation that facilitates the safe return of ex-offenders to their communities. Each year, the Second Chance Coalition holds a Second Chance Day on the Hill.
NAMI Minnesota can help advocate for these programs in your community. Contact Anna McLafferty at
amclafferty@nami.org or 651-645-2948, extension 111 for more information or to set up a training.
Criminal justice involvement is a stressful, confusing experience, both for the person arrested and the family. Below are some helpful resources for you and your family:
Advocating for People with Mental Illnesses in the Minnesota Criminal Justice System
is a booklet for anyone trying to advocate for a person with mental illness who has been arrested, is in jail, or is returning to the community after incarceration. (Published Nov. 2009)
Download here.
NAMI Forensic Network/MN
The Forensic Network is an advocacy, education and support group. Support group meetings are free and open to families and friends of people who have a mental illness and are involved with the criminal justice system. The Forensic Network seeks to:
• Improve living conditions in jails, prisons and the state security hospital;
• Provide information and support to families and people with mental illnesses about the criminal justice system; and
• Advocate for laws that improve mental health care and treatment.
For more information, call Joe at 651-484-8218 or visit the
NAMI Forensic Network/MN website.
Felon-Friendly Community Resources
A
resource list from the
Council on Crime and Justice.
Helping Attorneys Represent Clients
A helpful list of de-criminalization issues for attorneys to consider when representing clients with mental illnesses has been developed: Issue Spotting for Clients with Mental Illnesses.
See list.
Jail Discharge Planning – Learn about the successes and lessons learned by the Stearns County Release Advance Planning team here, or in Mac ppt here. The RAP team has significantly reduced criminal justice contact for its participants, many of whom have serious mental illnesses.
New Policy for Inmates on MA
In 2007, NAMI helped pass legislation so that individuals can submit a short application to re-apply for Medical Assistance (MA) when released from jail. Access the
application form or find
more information about the policy.
Mental Health in U.S. Prisons and Jails
A
report on the prevalence of mental illnesses in jails and prisons nationwide from the U.S. Department of Justice Statistics (September 2006). Nationwide, 64 percent of people in jails report having symptoms of a mental illness or recent contact with the mental health system.
NAMI Minnesota Jail Survey
In 2005, NAMI surveyed jails throughout the state and received 71 responses from 47 different county jails. Read the
full survey.