Title
Joint resolution authorizing the application for a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration grant from the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) on behalf of the Mental Health Court program for the purpose of providing financial assistance for a part time Assistant State’s Attorney and Assistant Public Defender and applicable fringe benefits each to the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, and associated equipment.
Staff Summary
• The Mental Health Court (MHC), a facet of the Therapeutic and Intensive Monitoring (TIM) Court program, is eligible for federal funds under an expansion grant.
• The State’s Attorney’s Office is applying for federal funds from the USDOJ “Justice and Mental Health Collaboration” Grant, administered through the USDOJ Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
• The grant period is 24 months, and awards of up to $200,000 in federal funds will be made per program. Program total maximum, after 20% (up to $50,000) match, is $250,000. The match will be provided as “in-kind” and not “cash”, through items that are already budgeted for Mental Health Court operations through the various departments that participate in the Court.
• Program Purpose Areas include hiring a part time Assistant State’s Attorney in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Mental Health Court operations, hiring a part time Assistant Public Defender in the Public Defender’s Office for Mental Health Court operations and thereby increasing Mental Health Court’s capacity to serve eligible offenders
• Goals include: treating more eligible mentally ill offenders through the MHC, reducing recidivism among MHC program participants, and increasing the number of jail beds available for violent and serious criminal offenders.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, on behalf of themselves and the Lake County Public Defender’s Office, will apply for and may be awarded up to $200,000 federal dollars in a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant which provides federal grant money to local governments and mental health agencies to plan, implement or expand their Mental Health Court program; and
WHEREAS, the grant will support the State’s Attorney’s Office and Public Defender’s Office to expand their efforts in the Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring (TIM) program’s Mental Health Court (MHC); and
WHEREAS, if awarded, Lake County will be required to match 20% of the program total (up to $50,000) and the match amount will be provided as “in-kind” through funds budgeted in existing approved department budgets and allocated to the operations of the Mental Health Court through the various departments that participate in the Court.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the application for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant, from the USDOJ OJP Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Mental Health Court is hereby authorized and supported.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on this 14th Day of April A.D., 2009.