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After several months of hard work by NAPO, the Commerce, Justice, Science and
Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittees in both the House and the Senate
increased funding for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime
Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for fiscal 2008. The Subcommittees
showed their support for this important program by doubling funding
of MIOTCRA from last year’s level of $5 million to $10 million in
fiscal 2008.
The
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act encourages
mental health and criminal justice systems to work together in devising
new, more effective ways to assist the mentally ill.
Demands for grants available through this program have far
exceeded their availability. In
2006, for example, only 27 (11%) received funding out of 250 submitted
grant applications from states and communities.
Programs
funded through this Act benefit communities in many ways. They reduce burdens on criminal justice and
correctional systems by diverting non-violent offenders with serious
mental illness to needed treatment.
They foster improved collaboration between the criminal justice
and mental health systems to enable people with serious mental illness
to successfully reenter their communities.
Additionally, and perhaps most important to law enforcement,
these programs increase public safety and reduce recidivism.
The
CJS Appropriations bills now move to the full House and Senate for
final action. NAPO does not anticipate any problems with
retaining this increase for MIOTCRA; however, we will continue to
keep a close eye on these bills throughout the rest of the appropriations
process to ensure that MIOTCRA and all state and local justice assistance
programs are fully funded.
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