Unlocking Mental Health: A New Approach to Jailing

In the state of Mississippi, a groundbreaking program is taking shape to revolutionize the way mental health services are provided to individuals in jail. The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law has partnered with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to create a two-year collaboration, aimed at connecting people in need of mental health care services while they are incarcerated. The program, aptly named the MacArthur Forensic Navigator Program, will provide a hotline for judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, public defenders, and family members of those in jail to access information and guidance on navigating the complex mental health system. According to Cliff Johnson, director of the MacArthur Justice Center, the goal is to ensure that individuals struggling with mental illness receive the care they need, rather than languishing in jail. The program's hotline attorney, Stacy Ferraro, has extensive experience in representing individuals charged with serious crimes and has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of mental illness on individuals and communities. She emphasizes that people struggling with mental health issues should not be left in jail, where they can spiral further into darkness. The collaboration between the MacArthur Justice Center and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health has already shown promising results. In one notable case, a woman previously diagnosed with a mental illness was charged with arson after setting fire to her family's home. With the help of the program, she was able to receive inpatient care, ensuring her safety and well-being.