Tag: Justice System
City of Abilene Multidisciplinary Community Response Team Study
The City of Abilene launched a multidisciplinary Community Response Team to improve justice system performance in responding to mental health crisis 911 calls. The Meadows Institute was engaged to provide technical assistance, research expertise,...
Engage & Excel 2022
Highlights from Day 1 of
Engage & Excel 2022
This morning we kicked off Engage & Excel 2022 both virtually and in-person to an enthusiastic audience in Plano, TX. Below are highlights from our morning kickoff and a few of today’s Breakout Sessions—deep dives…
Mental Health & Police Reform: Are Intervention Teams Working?
RIGHT Care stands for Rapid Integrated Group Healthcare Team. It started in 2018 after a study from the Meadows Mental Health Institute found the number of mental health-related calls increased by 18 percent from 2012…
Community Response Team making a difference in mental health calls in Abilene, elsewhere
An alliance between Betty Hardwick Center and the Abilene Police and Fire departments to bring better response to mental health issues worked 1,654 calls for service in its first year. Its primary goal is to stop clients…
Texas Tech Mental Health Initiative forms new partnership to expand services to community
Members of the Texas Tech Mental Health Initiative stressed the importance of mental health services in Lubbock Monday as a new report showed a need for care in the community. The group announced they would…
This program sends a social worker on 911 calls about mental health
If you call 911 in certain neighborhoods in Dallas, a licensed specialist at the dispatch center will determine if the call relates to a mental health crisis. If it does, it won’t just be the…
David Brown, Lightfoot’s Pick For Chicago Police Chief, Brings Mental Health Expertise To The Job
The first time Andy Keller met David Brown, Brown was still chief of the Dallas Police Department. Keller went to headquarters to talk about his expertise: public policy as it relates to mental health. Brown…
COVID-19 Jail Diversion Prioritization & Admission Protocol Considerations
In response to numerous requests from Texas counties for guidance on the operation of jails during a pandemic, the Justice Policy Team at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) developed a March 24, 2020…
MMHPI Teams Up with Caruth Police Institute
All too often, police officers are the first people to interact with people who are suffering a mental health crisis. That’s why MMHPI has long been committed to helping pioneer new approaches and programs that…
Caruth Institute increases statewide outreach
A North Texas police research program hopes to increase its reach statewide by partnering with police departments across the state. The Caruth Police Institute announced a partnership Tuesday with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute…
UNT Dallas, MMHPI Partner to Advance Caruth Police Institute as Leader in Police Training & Research
The University of North Texas at Dallas and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) have united to transform the Caruth Police Institute (CPI) into one of the premier police training, policy analysis, technical assistance and…
Texas Judicial Council Mental Health Committee
SUMMARY - In June 2016, with the help of former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Institute Board Member Harriet O’Neill, the Texas Judicial Council established the Mental Health Committee to examine the administration of...
Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice – SB 562
On April 17, 2019, Nelson Jarrin, JD, MMHPI Senior Director of Government Affairs, was invited testimony at the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. Senate Bill 562, relating to criminal or juvenile procedures regarding persons...
The Challenge of Identifying, Diverting & Treating Justice-Involved People with Mental Illness
SUMMARY - How to best manage the number of people with mental illnesses who are involved in the criminal justice system is long-standing problem that goes back decades. The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute...
Texas House Committees on Corrections and Criminal Jurisprudence
SUMMARY – During the 85th Legislative Interim, the House Committees on Corrections and Criminal Jurisprudence held a joint hearing. Senior Director of Smart Justice B.J. Wagner presented to the joint committees on the Rapid...
Texas House Committee on County Affairs
SUMMARY – In August 2018, during the 85th Legislative Interim, the House Committee on County Affairs met to hear invited and public testimony. B.J. Wagner, Senior Director of Smart Justice, was invited testimony and...
Dallas Launches Coordinated Response Program for Behavioral Health Calls
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI), Dallas FireRescue Department (DFR), Dallas Police Department (DPD), and Parkland Health & Hospital System today announced the launch of the Rapid Integrated Group Healthcare Team (RIGHT Care) pilot…
Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services – SB 344
On March 29, 2017, MMHPI Director of Smart Justice B.J. Wagner, was invited testimony at the Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. Senate Bill 344, relating to the authority of emergency medical...
Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services – SB 292
On March 29, 2017, MMHPI President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, was invited testimony at the Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. Senate Bill 292, relating to the creation of grant programs...
Texas House Committee on Public Health – HB 337 and HB 1734
On March 28, 2017, MMHPI Director of Smart Justice B.J. Wagner, was invited testimony at the Texas House Committee on Public Health. Ms. Wagner's was invited testimony on two bills related to Medicaid suspension:...