Justice
For more information about justice system projects at CSI, please contact Information@csi-policy.org and ask for Jewlya Lynn, Research Director.
Justice Projects
Framework and Plan for Colorado's Juvenile Justice System. In 2004, the legislature mandated the development of a plan for effective, collaborative services in the juvenile justice system to improve outcomes for youth with mental illness and co-occurring disorders. This plan was developed by the Center for Systems Integration in partnership with the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health ~ Colorado Chapter, on behalf of the Task Force for the Continuing Examination of the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness who are Involved in the Justice System. The Task Force has adopted the plan and is exploring implementation opportunities in partnership with the Colorado Divisions of Criminal Justice and Mental Health and the Prevention Leadership Council.
Juvenile Information Sharing. The Guidelines for Juvenile Information Sharing, developed by the Center for Network Development, provide a roadmap to states and local communities interested in creating comprehensive juvenile information sharing systems. Colorado is the first state to implement the Guidelines and is implementing a state level initiative that will include local community pilots. As part of this effort, CSI evaluated the first year of implementation of the Guidelines.
Mental Health / Juvenile Justice Action Network (MacArthur Foundation). With support from a three year grant from the MacArthur Foundation, called the Models for Change Grant, Colorado is building on the groundwork set by the Colorado Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Council's Three Year Plan. This grant specifically funds Colorado’s efforts to improve the interface between juvenile justice and mental health for justice involved youth. A primary focus of Colorado’s MacArthur Project is the systematic incorporation of a research-based mental health screening protocol within all juvenile justice agencies statewide (MAYSI-2). This includes pilot-testing the MAYSI-2 at four sites (Denver Juvenile Probation Department, Denver Safe City, Jefferson County Juvenile Probation and Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center) to collect information and data that will be used to develop a juvenile justice system-wide mental health screening protocol. In addition to ensuring that the mental health screening tool is implemented with fidelity by juvenile justice agencies statewide, the majority of Colorado’s efforts in Year 3 will be focused on implementing a Family and Youth Work Plan with the primary goal of enhancing the level of knowledge and understanding among juvenile justice administrators, staff, and stakeholders of the critically important role that families play in the lives of their children, and the role that families can play as professional partners with the juvenile justice system to achieve better outcomes for youth.
