About 20% of Iowans have or will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. This percentage is even higher for those incarcerated.
CROSS works with local law enforcement officials and service providers to prevent those suffering from mental health symptoms from being jailed. If an individual is arrested and happens to be suffering from a mental health issue, we connect that person to a network of service providers who can address multifaceted mental health issues.
Vision:
Provide an opportunity for treatment services to individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
The program works to connect individuals to the appropriate level of community-based treatment for their mental health and co-occurring needs in hopes of improving their overall quality of life and reducing their involvement in the criminal justice system.
Program Goals:
- Identify individuals with mental health and co-occurring disorders through referrals and screenings.
- Connect individuals to community-based agencies and services.
- Provide short-term, intensive case monitoring.
- Reduce the number of incarcerated persons with mental health and co-occurring disorders in the jails throughout the CROSS Region.
Program Requirements:
- 18 years or older.
- Voluntary agreement to participate in the program.
- Mental health disorder, co-occurring disorder, intellectual disability and/or developmental delay.
- Legal Eligibility: Based on collaboration between the county attorney, defense attorney, JA staff, probation/parole officer and the judge.