People with behavioral health conditions (e.g., serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or opioid use disorder) are 3-6 times more likely than the general population to be involved in the justice system. For the Department of Health and Human Services, we conducted an environmental scan and five case studies of pre-booking jail diversion interventions for people with these conditions. Through coordinated and early intervention, these programs aim to connect people to appropriate care and reduce costly justice involvement that hampers recovery.

Findings from our study, supported by ASPE, revealed a need for additional support for pursuing evaluation of jail diversion programs. We designed this Resource Guide to provide program staff and leadership with accessible tools to assist in the design and implementation of program evaluation in a way that best suits their needs and budget.

View the Resource Guide: