NCJ Number
180154
Date Published
April 1999
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the proceedings of a forum of more than 35 key stakeholders in the criminal justice, public health, mental health, and physical health fields, so as to provide for the exchange of ideas about how to build new partnerships in implementing a public health model for shaping criminal justice programs.
Abstract
The forum discussion was framed to articulate the way the involved disciplines interact; the kinds of partnerships that are working in communities across the country; and ideas about how to build, strengthen, and institutionalize the interdisciplinary partnerships. Participants were asked to focus on a case study and then to frame their comments, questions, and recommendations in terms of the following questions: How should partnerships between health and criminal justice work? What are the obstacles in forging these partnerships? How can these obstacles be overcome? This report summarizes the comments in response to these questions. The forum presented 11 recommendations to Attorney General Janet Reno. It recommended that the Justice Department advocate for an expansion of treatment programs in all systems that must collaborate in service delivery. Another recommendation was to prepare an inventory of existing interdisciplinary partnerships among public health and criminal justice organizations. Further, the Justice Department should educate Congress about the negative impact of some provisions in pending juvenile justice bills. The forum also recommended the development of cross-disciplinary training programs regarding issues of common concern, approaches to solving problems, and about working together collaboratively. Appended list of forum participants and the case study