Using Management Information Systems to Locate People with Serious Mental Illnesses and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders in the Criminal Justice System for Diversion
Publication year:
1999
| Cataloged on:
Oct. 31, 2006
ANNOTATION: A successful jail diversion program needs to have a way to identify those individuals who qualify for diversion. Maricopa County, Arizona, possesses an enhanced identification and referral system which this document describes. "Data Link" allows electronic data to be shared between the Maricopa County jail system and the local behavior health authority. Implementation barriers that were overcome included: reaching agreement on funding; incompatibility of computer systems; unrealistic expectations; frequent changes in key stakeholders; and confidentiality and security issues. The number of diversions before Data Link were 12 to 15 per month. After Data Link went live, diversions increased to 20-30 per month.