General Informational Resources:
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The Office of Forensic Mental Health Services provides useful information and contact information for forensic mental health services in the state of Washington. This site also provides information on diversion as well as procedures to assist jails in expending inmates awaiting court ordered Forensic Services.
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Washington Legal System Guide to Forensic Mental Health Services Produced by the The Office of Forensic Mental Health Services, this comprehensive guide explains and describes the mental health legal system.
General Medication Management in Correctional Settings:
- Psychiatric treatment and psychopharmacology in correctional facilities (American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume 46, Number 2, 2018 Supplement) Practice Resource: Prescribing in Corrections. Also available at: https://jaapl.org/content/46/2_Supplement/S2
This resource guide covers best practices for prescribing in correctional settings. Topics covered include health care concerns related to medication, evidence-based prescribing practices for specific diagnoses, segregated housing, continuity of care, treatment over objection, and medication non-adherence to name a few.
Screening and Assessment:
- The National Institute of Justice’s Mental Health Screens for Corrections provides examples of two mental health-screening instruments, instructions for completing the instruments, as well as discussion about the research that led to the development and validation of the screening instruments.
Suicide Prevention and Risk Management:
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Checklist for the “Suicide-Resistant” Design of Correctional Facilities © National Center on Institutions and Alternatives, 2011
A checklist of structural design of strategies intended to create suicide-resistant housing.
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Guiding Principles to Suicide Prevention in Correctional Facilities © National Center on Institutions and Alternatives, 2011
A list of principles for suicide prevention and essential components of suicide prevention programs in correctional facilities. Which includes guidance on everything from intake into the facility to effective use of language and optimal mindset.
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Guide to Developing and Revising Suicide Prevention Protocols within Jails and Prisons © National Center on Institutions and Alternatives, 2011
Useful information about suicide prevention protocols that covers the topics of staff training, identification/referral/evaluation, communication, housing, levels of observation/management, intervention, reporting, and follow-up/mortality-morbidity review.
Substance Use Treatment and Management:
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Jail-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment: Promising Practices, Guidelines, and Resources for the Field Produced by the NCCHC and the National Sheriffs’ Association, this resource provides tools, treatment program information, references and supporting documentation to help jail administrators in providing effective treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder.
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Medication-assisted Treatment Inside Correctional Facilities This SAMHSA publication is a brief that provides strategies and techniques to reduce diversions of drugs used in medication assisted treatment programs inside correctional facilities
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GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation Center This a SAMHSA publication of GAINS Center website and is a hub that links to resources related to expanding access to services for people with mental and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the justice system.
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National Institute on Drug Abuse This website provides links to a wide variety of topics related to NIDA’s mission and resources.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Forensic Assertive Community Treatment This publication provides a description of a service delivery model for individuals with serious mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system.
Transition Planning and Continuity of Care:
- Urban Institute Justice Policy Center – The Jail Administrator’s Toolkit for Reentry The Urban Institute publication is a comprehensive report that describes how to get started with reentry programs, assessment screens, re-entry strategies, identifying community resources, coordinating stakeholders and educating the public, requirements and standards, and measuring success.