The purpose of the Alternatives to Incarceration for Individuals with Mental health needs (AIIM) program is to provide an alternative to incarceration for individuals with mental health issues that are in the community justice system. The program provides mental health and substance use treatment services and community justice supervision to adults. Our goal is to reduce jail bed days and the drain on probation, the courts, the jail, and the community at large.
Clientele
- Primary mental health diagnosis that meets the criteria for Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, etc.
- May have a co-occurring substance use diagnosis.
- May have a personality disorder but if present, must not be the predominant mental health issue.
- Issues with maintaining stability in life (i.e. employment, housing, etc).
- Defendants' that need assistance in connecting to resources in the community.
- Review of criminal history/current legal status will also be considered.
- All potential participants will be carefully screened by a multi-disciplinary team for acceptance into the program and a sentencing option presented to the courts.
Program Information
Participants in the AIIM Program will participate in the following services:
- Individual therapy
- Court Compliance Case Management
- Group Therapy
- Basic Needs Case Management
- Psychiatric treatment including medication administration
Ongoing Services
Program staff will make referrals to community services to aid the client in developing independence and community support. A goal of both programs is to aid the client in independence and connection to services to support long term recovery and pro-social behaviors after they have completed the programs. However, the door is always open for AIIM or Wellness Court clients to return to programs to be connected to services.
Our mission is to reduce recidivism with persons with mental illness by supporting their long term recovery through collaborative efforts with community service providers, thereby providing public safety with cost effective alternatives to incarceration.
Clientele
- Must have a severe and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar disorder, major depression
- May have a co-occurring substance use disorder
- May have a co-occurring personality disorder, but must not be the predominant mental health issue
- Must reside in the 8th Judicial District and be charged with a felony or misdemeanor or be facing revocation of probation in the 8th Judicial District
- LSI score above 23
- All referrals will go through a screening process including a legal screening to look at criminal history and risk, as well as a psycho-social assessment to determine appropriateness for the program.
Program Information
Participants of the 8th Judicial District Wellness Court will participate in the following services:
- Court appearances
- Individual therapy
- Probation supervision
- Group therapy
- Basic needs case management
- Psychiatric treatment including medication administration
Ongoing Services
Program staff will make referrals to community services to aid the client in developing independence and community support. A goal of both programs is to aid the client in independence and connection to services to support long term recovery and pro-social behaviors after they have completed the programs. However, the door is always open for AIIM or Wellness Court clients to return to programs to be connected to services.
