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J_MICJS_2021A 08/18/2021 09:04:40 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Date 08/18/2021
Attendance
Amabile X
Lee X
Pelton X
Simpson X
Rodriguez X
Benavidez X
Time 09:04:40 AM to 12:04:02 PM
Place HCR 0112
This Meeting was called to order by Benavidez
This Report was prepared by Juliann Jenson
Hearing Items Action Taken
Opening Remarks Committee Discussion Only
Update on Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) Activities Committee Discussion Only
Overview of Criminal Justice Services in the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), Colorado Department of Human Services Committee Discussion Only
Committee Charge Overview and Interim Bill Request Process and Deadlines Committee Discussion Only
General Overview and History of Advisory Task Force Committee Discussion Only
Discussion of Future Topics and Oversight Committee Meeting Dates Committee Discussion Only

Opening Remarks - Committee Discussion Only


09:05:18 AM  

Chair Benavidez called the meeting to order for the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System (MHDCJS).   The agenda was distributed to committee members (Attachment A).  Committee members introduced themselves.  Chair Benavidez provided an overview of the Legislative Oversight Committee and explained the working relationship with the task force.   Committee members asked questions about previous legislation sponsored by the oversight committee.  



Update on Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) Activities - Committee Discussion Only


09:19:03 AM  

Dr. Abigail Tucker, Vice-Chair, Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), discussed CCJJ's work and behavioral health.  She also provided an overview of the relationship between behavioral health and the criminal justice system.  She further discussed barriers to treatment, telehealth, quality of care, diversion, and sentencing.  She answered questions about making diversion a more prominent CCJJ agenda item.  She also responded to questions about CCJJ's use of assessments, data tracking, outcome measurements, and performance evaluations.



Overview of Criminal Justice Services in the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), Colorado Department of Human Services - Committee Discussion Only


09:38:27 AM  

Jenny Wood, Director, Criminal Justice Services in the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), Colorado Department of Human Services, provided an overview of the programs under Criminal Justice Services and distributed a related handout (Attachment B).  She explained that OBH delivers and funds diversion, treatment, and continuity of care services and partners with jails, parole offices, law enforcement, and justice organizations.  She began her presentation with diversion programs and answered questions about the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), including its effectiveness and budget.  The committee discussed the costs and benefits of diversion programs.

09:55:36 AM  

The committee continued to discuss diversion and asked questions about co-responder programs. 

Ms. Wood next explained jail based behavioral health services.  She discussed implementation, best practices, re-entry services and tele-health.  Committee members asked questions about transitional housing and vouchers. 

 

 

 

10:14:05 AM  

Committee members raised questions about technical assistance for jails, jail standards, and medications. 

10:18:21 AM  

The committee discussed medication consistency, or lack thereof, in jails.  Committee members asked questions about the number of inmates who participate in jail based behavioral health services. 

 

 

10:31:16 AM  

Ms. Wood continued her presentation and discussed short-term residential treatment and issues with technical violations.  She briefly explained Forensic Services in OBH and noted that this office oversees competency and restoration, transition and case management, court-ordered evaluations, jail-based and outpatient restoration services, and education.  Committee members asked questions about jail-based competency services. 

10:45:50 AM  

Chair Benavidez requested that the director of Forensic Services in OBH present to the committee about programs and services at the next hearing.



Committee Charge Overview and Interim Bill Request Process and Deadlines - Committee Discussion Only


10:47:39 AM  

Jane Ritter, Office of Legislative Legal Services, outlined the bill draft request process and deadlines.  

 

 



General Overview and History of Advisory Task Force - Committee Discussion Only

10:59:58 AM  

Dr. David Iverson, incoming task force chair and psychiatric director for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, discussed the task force goals and ways to keep people out of the criminal justice system.  He distributed three handouts related to the task force, including a brochure (Attachment C), task force subcommittee informational sheet (Attachment D), and a white paper on high potency marijuana (Attachment E).  He explained that the task force has four subcommitees: 1) housing; 2) youth; 3) data and information sharing; and 4) mental health holds. 

Peggy Heil, task force member, discussed the task force, the data subcommittee, and identified issues they have been researching over the past year.  She discussed continuity of care and aligning definitions across systems. 

 

11:18:42 AM  

Gina Shimeall, task force member, discussed the housing subcommittee and areas of study. 

11:35:47 AM  

Dr. Iverson recapped activities of the youth subcommittee, focusing on disrupting the school to prison pipeline and youth competency. He also briefly summarized the mental health hold subcommittee. 

Ms. Shimeall additionally noted work with the CCJJ regarding assaults on first responders. 

 



Discussion of Future Topics and Oversight Committee Meeting Dates - Committee Discussion Only


11:50:34 AM  

The committee identified topics they would like to learn more about at the next hearing, including (de) criminalization of assault charges on first responders, mental health jail standards, unfinished business or previous legislation supported by the committee, mental health holds, a forensics services overview, and diversion programs. 

 


12:04:02 PM   The committee adjourned.






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