Mental Health and the Justice System

Mental Health and the Justice System: Enduring Challenges, Emerging Opportunities

Through a series of panels, attendees will hear from people with practical expertise working across the justice, healthcare, and service provider systems.

The goal is for everyone to leave better informed and with ideas for improving the response to mental health inside, outside, and alongside the justice system.

The event is sponsored by the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement, the Slay Fund for Social Justice, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation at Drake Law School.

Highlights:

• NAMI “In Our Own Voice” presentation featuring people with lived experience of mental illness sharing their stories and discussing the human impact of law, policy, and practice.
• Panels featuring innovations in Policing, Courts, and Corrections from across Iowa.
• Panel with Nonprofit Service Providers talking about their work and the changing landscape around mental health, behavioral health, and substance use services.
• Status Update on the New Behavioral Health System.
• Opportunities for networking across institutions, offices, and systems.

Who should attend

This event welcomes anyone committed to improving outcomes at the intersection of mental health and the justice system. We welcome attorneys, corrections and reentry staff, parole and probation officers, judges, law enforcement officers, court administrators and clerks, behavioral health professionals, treatment providers, nonprofit service providers, public defenders, and policy advocates, just to name a few. Individuals with lived experience are especially encouraged to join.

Attend in-person or online

• This event is free, but registration is required.
• This is a hybrid event. Attendees have the choice to attend in person at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, or virtually.
• The in-person event will take place at The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement. Lunch will be provided.
• Online attendees will watch a live stream of all general session content and will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A.
• There is no cost to attend in person or online, but a donation is encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Accommodations

American Sign Language (ASL) and live captions in English will be available for all general session content for all attendees.

If you have any questions regarding accommodations please contact [email protected] or 515-271-3623.

Parking

In-person attendees will be able to park in lot 24, next to the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center. More information about obtaining a vistor parking pass will be sent to registered attendees before the event.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, 2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, United States

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