Originally posted at CSAC.
The nexus between mental illness and criminal behavior is relatively well known and there are treatment options available for people who are mentally ill. But even some people who are not mentally ill may benefit from changing the way they see themselves and their place in the world. In Colusa County, the Probation and Health and Human Services Departments teamed up to offer Moral Reconation Therapy to some AB 109 offenders– and they are getting great results.
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In 2011, the California Legislature passed AB 109 — a plan to comply with federal court orders to reduce the prison population by about 35,000 inmates. Under this plan, California’s 58 counties began incarcerating, supervising and rehabilitating non-serious, non-violent, and non-sexual criminal offenders. The plan is now two years old.
Since then, California Counties have risen to the challenge, implementing evidence-based practices that identify individual offender’s risk factors and providing services, treatment and other resources to help reduce the risk of reoffending. CSAC originally four “Smart Justice” videos, highlighting Glenn, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and San Mateo counties, where staff has developed and implemented creative and successful programs that are making our communities safer and helping to reduce recidivism.
“Our goal is to highlight some AB 109 success stories and help counties share and replicate programs that are working,” stated CSAC Communications Director Gregg Fishman.
To see the efforts of others counties, please refer to the links below:
