CSG Justice Center

10/16/2026

7 out of 10 youth in the justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition, compared to only 2 out of 10 in the general population.

Many policymakers are concerned about youth crime but fail to address the unmet health needs that often play a key role in juvenile justice involvement.

Through our Stepping Up for Youth initiative, the CSG Justice Center helps leaders identify, implement, and expand policies to safely reduce detention and increase connections to behavioral health care.

This , learn how Stepping Up for Youth can help your community, and explore the research and data on the connection between behavioral health and juvenile justice system involvement: https://hubs.la/Q04yV_XT0

How the CSG Justice Center is improving outcomes for youth and juvenile justice systems.

10/15/2026

“There can be no wrong door when requesting crisis services. Crisis response can, and should, look different depending on needs and situations.”

After establishing a 988 system, Washington worked with the CSG Justice Center to develop a legislative vision for sustaining and expanding co-response programs that involve different combinations of law enforcement, behavioral health providers, and community responders.

Learn how WA is aligning health and safety:
https://hubs.la/Q04xzpny0

10/14/2026

Local leaders across the country are making significant investments in behavioral health services and diversion programs—but without a common playbook for who should get which interventions.

For the next year, with funding from Arnold Ventures, The Council of State Governments Justice Center will work with the following 12 counties to test our new approach to help communities spend, optimize, and measure the impact of their investments in behavioral health interventions:

California: Santa Barbara County
Colorado: Adams County
Kansas: Shawnee County
New Mexico: Bernalillo County
Nevada: Clark County and Washoe County
Pennsylvania: Cumberland County and Northampton County
South Carolina: Horry County
North Carolina: Mecklenburg County and Wake County
Florida: Palm Beach County

Our goal?

We want to end the cycle of unnecessary incarceration of people with behavioral health needs and create a playbook for counties across the country to do it.

Explore how our Counties Aligning Health & Safety project is helping local leaders make every dollar count:

Solutions for complex justice challenges

10/13/2026

Still spending time manually building reports?

Learn how to make your corrections data reporting more efficient with our new courses from the Academy.

These courses are free—and let you learn at your own pace.

Get started today: https://hubs.la/Q04t-fVG0

10/12/2026

This Friday is the LAST DAY to nominate a judge or psychiatrist for their work to transform how courts treat people with mental health or substance use needs.

What makes a strong nominee? Someone who:

🎯 Improves outcomes for people with behavioral health needs
📚 Uses research-backed and person-centered strategies
💡 Has an innovative spirit and commitment to reduce disparities

Learn more and nominate someone today: https://hubs.la/Q04x4mrr0

National Center for State Courts
American Psychiatric Association Foundation

The deadline to nominate someone for their recent work or lifetime achievements is October 16, 2026.

10/09/2026

Know an exceptional psychiatrist working at the intersection of behavioral health and justice?

We’re looking for psychiatrists whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to evidence-based care are improving outcomes for people involved in the justice system.

Nominate them for the 2026 Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award, presented by The Council of State Governments Justice Center, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and the National Center for State Courts.

Nominations are due next Friday, October 16:

The deadline to nominate someone for their recent work or lifetime achievements is October 16, 2026.

10/08/2026

What would corrections, health, housing, labor, and other agencies learn if they could connect the data they already have?

“The more we can data share, the more we can get there.”

🎥 Watch our latest Advancing Data in Corrections seminar to learn how Montana is doing what most states struggle with: https://hubs.la/Q04zF1dF0

10/07/2026

Virginia built one of the nation’s most ambitious behavioral health crisis systems, with services available across all 95 counties.

But as the system expanded, severe service disparities were revealed.

The CSG Justice Center partnered with Virginia leaders to understand the disparities and develop recommendations for improving the quality standards and funding sustainability of crisis services.

Read the recommendations:
https://hubs.la/Q04xzqM80

10/05/2026

Anxiety, when left untreated, can make it hard for kids to stay in school, and unexcused absences can all too easily lead to justice system involvement at a young age.

During , explore our collection of critical research, 50-state data, and policy recommendations on school discipline, truancy, and college and career readiness: https://hubs.la/Q04yV-Mb0

How the CSG Justice Center is improving outcomes for youth and juvenile justice systems.

10/02/2026

The late Judge Stephen S. Goss was a tireless advocate for improving the lives of people with behavioral health needs while and after they were involved in the justice system. He founded the first felony mental health court in Georgia and one of the earlier felony programs in the United States.

Every year, we recognize judges and psychiatrists who are continuing his legacy.

Know a leader whose recent work or lifetime of achievements deserves recognition? Nominate them (or yourself) by October 16 for the 2026 Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award.

View the criteria plus past recipients:

The deadline to nominate someone for their recent work or lifetime achievements is October 16, 2026.