From the consensusproject.org :
Senate includes $12 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction program
On June 19, the Senate completed the mark-up of its 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill. In the bill, the Senate reserved $12 million for mental health courts and adult and juvenile collaboration program grants authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA).
In addition, on June 25, the House Appropriations Committee completed the mark-up of the 2009 appropriations bill, reserving $10 million for grant programs under MIOTCRA.
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Pete Dominici (R-NM) worked closely with colleagues to ensure continued funding for the program in FY 2009. Other key supporters included Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressmen Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).
The grant program, called the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and provides grants to states to improve collaboration between criminal justice and mental health agencies. The program received $5 million in FY 06 and FY 07 and $6.5 million in FY 08.
Other criminal justice programs listed in the Senate appropriations bill include the Justice Assistance Grant program (JAG), which is slated to receive $580 million, and the Community Oriented Policing Services program (COPS), which is slated to receive $600 million. Additionally, $30 million was included for Drug Courts.
For more information on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act, visit the Consensus Project Website or contact Elizabeth Dodd.