J_MICJS_2018A 07/17/2018 12:14:40 PM Committee Summary

Anne Teigen, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), presented to the committee and distributed handouts (Attachments A and B).  She described NCSL and the type of research that they conduct.  She also distributed a bound report to the committee members.  This report is available online at http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/juvenile-justice-principles.aspx.

Ms. Teigen provided background information on the juvenile justice system.  She discussed national trends in treating mental health disorders in the juvenile justice system.

Ms. Teigen explained that some states have made comprehensive reforms to the juvenile justice system after extensive stakeholder involvement.  She described state efforts regarding early intervention and diversion of juveniles from the justice system.

Ms. Teigen described reforms related to juvenile sex offenders, including education and registration requirements.  She explained that some states limit shackling and/or solitary confinement of juveniles.

She described state efforts related to juvenile mental health needs including increased funding, screening and assessment, legal safeguards, and competency requirements.

Ms. Teigen described juvenile mental health courts in Michigan and Florida.  She discussed two additional juvenile justice trends including expungement of records, due process protections, and defense reform.

Ms. Teigen responded to questions regarding juvenile mental health assessments, juveniles returning to school after being charged with a sex offense, and the definition of a juvenile mental health disorder.

Ms. Teigen continued to respond to questions regarding states that study and collect data on outcomes of juvenile justice reforms and safeguards around self incriminating information.

Dr. Danielle Weittenhiller, Office of Behavioral Health, Department of Human Services (DHS), presented to the committee and distributed a handout (Attachment C).

Dr. Weittenhiller described the Restoring Indivuduals Safely and Effectively (RISE) program and its goals.  She explained that the program is intended to restore individuals to competency within a certain time frame.

Dr. Weittenhiller explained that the target population for RISE are individuals who are not imminent threats to themselves and for whom community restoration is not an option.  She noted that RISE participants are male only, and kept separate from the rest of the jail population.

Dr. Weittenhiller described the expansion of the RISE program offerings and available beds in recent years.  She described RISE admissions by county, and explained that Correct Care is the vendor for the program.

Bureau Chief Vince Line, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, described how deputies are hired to work in the RISE program, and noted that the office hires internally for these positions.  He explained that officers must express interest in working in the program.  Chief Line noted that deputies must undergo Crisis Intervention Training, mental health awareness training, and training through Correct Care in order to work in the program.  

Dr. Weittenhiller provided data on admissions and reasons for discharge from the program.  She discussed the average length of time it takes to restore RISE participants.

Dr. Weittenhiller responded to questions on the number of persons determined incompetent and the status of additional beds for restorations and evaluations.

Dr. Weittenhiller discussed the benefits of expanding the RISE program, challenges and expenses associated with expanding restoration services, services for female inmates, and the youth services curriculum.  She explained that the RISE program is the only such jail-based program that DHS oversees.

Bureau Chief Line and Dr. Weittenhiller responded to questions regarding replicating the RISE program in other county jails and detention centers.  Dr. Weittenhiller discussed Wisconsin's jail based restoration program and commented on Senate Bill 18-252, in response to a question.

Brenidy Rice, State Court Administrator's Office, presented to the committee on mental health courts.  She explained that there are seven mental health courts across the state and they are discretionary, not mandatory.

Ms. Rice described the target population for mental health courts, which are persons with higher level offenses and criminal history with a high risk of recidivism and high need for services.  She noted that participation can last from 12 to 24 months, and program completion and recidivism is tracked.

Ms. Rice summarized Senate Bill 18-249 to the committee, which creates a pre-file diversion model pilot program in four sites across the state.  She described how the pilot program will work and noted that the participants will likely be lower level offenders.

Ms. Rice provided an update on selection of the pilot sites for Senate Bill 18-249.  She responded to questions on recidivism rate for problem solving courts and the timeline for the pilot program.

Camille Harding, MHDCJS Task Force Chair, responded to committee questions regarding policy recommendations from the task force.

Senator Martinez Humenik commented on task force discussion on Senate Bill 18-252.  Committee members commented on participation in the task force meetings by phone.

Representative Benavidez discussed bill drafts that the task force plans to recommend to the commmittee.  Representative Singer discussed sharing ideas for bill requests with the task force and vice versa ahead of the bill request meeting on August 16.