U.S. Senator Susan Collins has announced that the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act that she cosponsored is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  The legislation will support mental health courts, crisis intervention teams, suicide prevention efforts in jails, and other programs that have helped law enforcement assist individuals experiencing mental illness for nearly two decades.

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act will provide grantees with greater options to respond to and treat individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

Specifically, the legislation will:

Support co-responder teams that deploy mental health professionals with law enforcement and allow a 24/7, 365 response capability;

Enhance community capacity and linkage to care systems to ensure continuity of care and connection to mental health and substance use disorder crisis services;

Allow jurisdictions to provide case management services and support along with suicide prevention programs; and

Support community programs as they integrate the new 988 mental health crisis phone line and allows for crisis intervention teams to be placed in 911 call centers.

“When Americans experience a mental health crisis and are in need of support, it is critical that those individuals can receive the assistance and resources they need,” said Senator Collins, in a news release. “This legislation will strengthen a successful grant program that helps foster collaboration between law enforcement and mental health agencies.  As a result, law enforcement officers will be able to do their jobs more effectively, resources for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders will be enhanced, and public safety will be improved.”

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act was co-authored by Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and it is supported by the Addiction Policy Forum, American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Probation and Parole Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Correctional Leaders Association, Fraternal Order of the Police (FOP), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Mental Health America, Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, National Association for Behavioral Health, National Association of Counties (NACo), National Association of Drug Court Professionals, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), National Conference of State Legislatures, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), National Fraternal Order of Police, National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Prison Fellowship, Council of State Governments Justice Center, and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC).