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The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction
Act (MIOTCRA) provides states and local governments with resources to plan
and implement initiatives for people with mental illnesses involved with the
criminal justice system in order to increase public safety and improve the
lives of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system and
their families.
This critical program is in jeopardy. The
President’s 2012 budget proposed the consolidation of MIOTCRA into a single
problem-solving courts initiative, which would exclude many of the key
elements of MIOTCRA. This policy shift would eliminate MIOTCRA and terminate
over 60 percent of its program areas.
We need YOUR help.
Contact
your Members of Congress and ask them to support funding for MIOTCRA.
Congress is working on the appropriations bills for FY
2012. To ensure MIOTCRA is funded, Members of Congress need to
hear from you about the program immediately.
The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction
Act (MIOTCRA) was signed into law in 2004, and authorized a $50 million grant
program to be administered by the United States Department of Justice. In
2008, Congress reauthorized the program for an additional five years. The
reauthorization bill expanded training for law enforcement to identify and
respond appropriately to individuals with mental illnesses. The program
received $10 million in FY 2009; $12 million in FY 2010; and $9.6 million in
FY 2011.
Please forward on this email to your
colleagues, friends and networks and encourage them to take part in
contacting their Members of Congress as well. Visit
http://www.capwiz.com/csgjusticectr/home/
to learn more or send a letter
of support for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime
Reduction Act.
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