Behavioral Health and Justice Division (formerly BHJRS)

The Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) launched in 2019 after years as the Behavioral Health and Justice Related Services unit. Its mission is to address behavioral health and justice-related issues that impact the individuals served by DBHIDS. BHJD seeks to reduce stigma, increase behavioral health awareness across systems, strengthen community and cross-system capacity, support recovery and resilience, and increase early intervention and access to behavioral health services.

BHJD Goals include:

• Improve communication and collaboration internally (DBHIDS) and externally (e.g., CJAB, PPS, Philadelphia Court, PPD).
• Reduction of justice involvement among individuals with behavioral health needs.
• Improvement of treatment outcomes in the community for people reentering from incarceration.
• Improvement of making a successful recovery in the community.
• Decreasing criminal recidivism.

Post-Arrest Crisis Screener (PACS), placed in the Northwest Division, screens arrestees for symptoms of suicidal ideation or serious mental illness, drug and alcohol needs and co-occurring challenges to connect them with behavioral health services.

Forensic Peer Specialist (FPS) Initiative -The FPS Coordinator is a certified peer specialist that currently works with individuals with behavioral health needs and criminal justice involvement.

First Judicial District Mental Health Court serves as a specialized reentry court designed to decrease length of incarceration for nonviolent offenders with mental illnesses, including individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders.

PA Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program for Veterans provides a Veterans Court that has enhanced and expanded the partnership between the DBHIDS with the Philadelphia VA. A Veterans Jail Diversion Coordinator and Veteran Forensic Peer Specialist assist VA and Non-VA eligible veterans to link to needed behavioral health services and supports.