Report 2020-103 Recommendations

To increase public safety and reduce the likelihood of recidivism, Corrections should establish a separate category in the appropriate data system to track the individuals who would have qualified for the integrated services program. It should also ensure that staff in the institutions, including mental health clinicians and staff involved in prerelease planning, coordinate with parole to assign these individuals to parole agents with specialized caseloads who have the training and experience to serve this population. Corrections should focus its efforts on at least the eight counties that are losing the integrated services program and complete the steps noted in this recommendation by February 2021.

To increase public safety and reduce the likelihood of recidivism, Corrections should continue to meet with the appropriate staff in the behavioral health departments of the eight counties where the integrated services program currently operates to facilitate coordination among Corrections' staff, the providers, and the counties. The coordination should focus on smoothly transitioning current program participants to the county services they need and on developing processes for future parolees with mental illness and issues with homelessness who will transition to county services. Corrections should begin holding these meetings by October 2020 and continue them until all necessary processes are in place.

To increase public safety and reduce the likelihood of recidivism, Corrections should create a regular forum for subject-matter experts to share information regarding their respective efforts to smoothly transition current program participants to county services and to develop processes for future parolees with mental illness and issues with homelessness who will transition to county services. Corrections should include its staff from the eight counties in which the integrated services program will no longer operate, including staff in the institutions, such as mental health clinicians and staff involved in prerelease planning, parole agents, and parole outpatient clinical staff. Corrections should also include the providers currently under contract, county services staff, and others as necessary. The forums should offer Corrections' staff the opportunity to receive updated training as necessary, and Corrections should begin hosting these forums by October 2020.

To determine whether parolees with mental illness who have housing needs are receiving necessary services and support during their parole terms, Corrections should review its processes for connecting these individuals to county services by determining the appropriate metrics to evaluate its processes and setting goals related to those metrics.

To determine whether parolees with mental illness who have housing needs are receiving necessary services and support during their parole terms, Corrections should review its processes for connecting these individuals to county services by ensuring that it is collecting sufficient, consistent data to review those metrics.

To determine whether parolees with mental illness who have housing needs are receiving necessary services and support during their parole terms, Corrections should review its processes for connecting these individuals to county services by establishing a timeline for conducting reviews regularly, but at least every three years. Corrections should develop its plan by July 2021 and include at least the eight counties formerly served by the integrated services program. Corrections should complete its first review by December 2021.

To determine whether parolees with mental illness who have housing needs are receiving necessary services and support during their parole terms, Corrections should review its processes for connecting these individuals to county services by reporting on its success in meeting its goals to the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health and the public. Corrections should develop its plan by July 2021 and include at least the eight counties formerly served by the integrated services program. Corrections should complete its first review by December 2021.

To determine whether parolees with mental illness who have housing needs are receiving necessary services and support during their parole terms, Corrections should review its processes for connecting these individuals to county services by using the reviews to identify changes to improve its processes for connecting parolees to resources, including improving training for Corrections' staff.Corrections should develop its plan by July 2021 and include at least the eight counties formerly served by the integrated services program. Corrections should complete its first review by December 2021.