The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center has put together a resource of justice issues covered by governors in this year’s State of the State addresses. Numerous governors focused on the scourge of fentanyl and substance/opioid use, as well as mental health issues. 

Investing in law enforcement and reducing violent crime—particularly through more stringent gun laws—were also top priorities. As in 2023, a number of governors also highlighted the success of various crisis response efforts—including the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline—and the need to address homelessness and housing shortages. 

While there can be many partners involved in a police-mental health collaboration (PMHC), day-to-day operations are typically overseen by a project coordinator and the PMHC’s interagency workgroup. This comprehensive handbook from the CSG Justice Center is designed to guide project coordinators through the process of planning, implementing, and continuously improving a PMHC. It is a follow-up to the Police-Mental Health Collaboration Framework and the Police-Mental Health Collaboration Self-Assessment Tool, providing concrete action steps that project coordinators can take throughout the PMHC’s planning and implementation stages. 

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)—a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs—and the CSG Justice Center invite state, local, and Tribal jurisdictions to request technical assistance to adopt the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessment. Participants in this opportunity will gain status as a leader in improving accuracy, fairness, and transparency in post-conviction assessments with cutting-edge strategies that benefit criminal justice agencies, outcomes for individuals in the system, and the broader community. 

This opinion piece in Crain’s Detroit Business, authored by CSG Justice Center Deputy Division Director Sarah Wurzburg, highlights the expansion of community responder programs in Michigan and across the country. These efforts include the Expanding First Response toolkit and commission, as well as the recently launched Great Lakes Community Responder Learning Community. 

This webinar will showcase the power of restorative justice and credible messengers to transform youth outcomes in the juvenile justice system through proven, community-driven solutions.  

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