By Scott Block
One need not search very hard to find an extensive amount of research supporting the overrepresentation of persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) involved with the criminal justice system. Commonly cited statistics evidence approximately 20% of inmates in jails and 15% of inmates in state prisons are estimated to have a serious mental illness and nearly 68% of people in jail overall have a diagnosable substance use disorder.
According to a July 2021, Joint Statement of Commitment to Continuing Cooperation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) & Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness:
“Because the justice system plays such a major role in responding to SMI and SUD, the state courts of our nation play a vital role in leading change. State courts are most often the primary referral source for treatment, as individuals suffering from SMI or SUD get swept into the justice system. State courts are on the frontlines of the crisis.”
To improve our collective court and community response to justice-involved individuals with SMI/SUD in Illinois, this past October, I had the distinct privilege and honor of filling the inaugural role of Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
As Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator, I serve as the Judicial Branch’s dedicated voice and resource, committed to furthering local, state, and national behavioral health and justice initiatives that affect the courts. To say that that the first months in this role have been both rewarding and eventful would be an understatement, but that is good news. The Judicial Branch as well as our justice partners within the Legislative and Executive Branches have been working tirelessly to promote and enact transformational change within the behavioral health space.
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, which was nationally commemorated in 1949, there would be no better time than now to bring you the first edition of Behavioral Health, the Bench, and Beyond (BBB). While Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated nationally each May, the World Health Organization also celebrates World Mental Health Day on October 10th of each year. It is the goal of the Illinois Supreme Court Task Force on Improving the Court and Community Response to Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorders (Task Force) to provide the court community with an edition of BBB each May and October.
It is the Task Force’s intent to provide informational updates regarding behavioral health happenings and trends that not only effect the Judiciary, court professionals, and court users, but also our families, friends, and communities. The Task Force invites you to join us in reflecting on some recent events and highlights impacting Behavioral Health, the Bench, and Beyond.