The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) was created in 1984 to reduce violent crime, create safer communities, and reform our Nation’s criminal justice system. BJA’s mission is to provide leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support state, local, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities. BJA works with communities, governments, and nonprofit organizations to reduce crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system.
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) aims to improve public safety by fostering cross-system collaboration. It specifically addresses the needs of individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs) who are involved with the criminal justice system. The program supports the creation, preparation, or expansion of comprehensive plans and the implementation of collaborative projects targeting this population. Key activities funded include linking individuals with MHDs or MHSUDs to treatment and social services, enhancing connectivity to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, facilitating access to case management and crisis stabilization units, developing mental health courts or other court-based solutions, expanding diversion strategies led by prosecutors or defenders, establishing supported employment services, employing specialized probation caseloads, training public safety officials and mental health providers, and increasing cooperation between state and local governments to support affected individuals.