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Attorney General Mike DeWine
DeWine Releases
Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness Report
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week,
Attorney General DeWine released the Ohio Attorney General's Task Force
on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness annual report.
The Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental
Illness was established in 2011 to address the significant number of
individuals with mental illnesses who are involved in the adult and
juvenile criminal justice system. The task force is co-chaired by
Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Retired.
"This task force is focused on finding ways to stop the revolving door
of incarceration for people with mental illness and to provide them
with treatment," said Attorney General DeWine. "Through the work
of this group, I am confident that we are creating a better environment
for Ohio families, individuals with mental illness and their loved
ones, and peace officers across the state."
The report, which can be found on the Ohio Attorney General's website,
outlines the broad range of projects the task force has worked on
regarding issues of mental health and the criminal justice system,
including:
Promoting the Stepping Up Initiative, a national movement to reduce the
number of people with mental illnesses in jails.
Identifying gaps in the quantity and quality of supportive housing
services for transitional youths exiting the juvenile justice system.
Reaching out to law enforcement agencies that have not had Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT) training and providing support to their
respective communities as they enter into the process.
The task force is composed of state agency representatives, law
enforcement, judges, and mental health professionals who meet regularly
to increase public safety and reduce the number of persons with mental
illness trapped in the criminal justice system. The task force
evolved from a similar committee that Justice Lundberg Stratton started
in 2001.
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