Showing a steadfast commitment to improving the court and community response to individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who encounter the criminal justice system, the Illinois Supreme Court spent the past year continuing its active participation on the National Judicial Task Force to Examine the State Courts Response to Mental Illness. 

Through its Illinois Mental Health Task Force, the knowledge gained from the experience was applied and shared across Illinois, as hundreds of court professionals and justice partners participated in a statewide electronic community assessment survey and judicially led multidisciplinary, resource mapping workshops. Overall, these efforts achieved the following: 

• Identified and shared information, resources, and gaps in service across the state; 
• Introduced participants to evidence-based and best practices; 
• Enhanced relationships across courts, state agencies, behavioral health providers, and social services. 

Supported by a grant from the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts assisted the Illinois Mental Health Task Force in using the information gained through these activities, along with extensive reviews of relevant research, to develop an Action Plan. The Action Plan embraces the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM)*, developed by Mark Munetz, MD, and Patricia Griffin, PhD, in conjunction with the SAMHSA’s GAINS Center and includes recommendations supporting the following strategic goals: 

• Courts as Conveners 
• Training Opportunities Across the Intercepts 
• Awareness Across the Intercepts 
• Best Practices: Intercepts Zero – Five 

*(Intercepts include Community Services, Law Enforcement, Initial Detention/Court Hearings, Jails/Courts, Reentry, Community Corrections) 

The Illinois Supreme Court approved the Action Plan during its November 2022 Administrative Term. 

As the Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Mental Health Task Force move to effectuate the Action Plan, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and the task force members cordially invite all interested justice and behavioral health/social service partners to SAVE THE DATE and REGISTER to attend an Action Plan Web Event on Thursday, February 2nd from 12:15-1:00 pm. 

(For further information regarding the Illinois Mental Health Task Force, please visit Mental Health Task Force (illinoiscourts.gov) or contact Scott Block, Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts at sblock@illinoiscourts.gov or (312) 793-1876.)