The role of mental health issues in violence, crime, incarceration and reentry to society was explored at the annual conference Thursday of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation. Academics, social workers, health care providers and formerly incarcerated people gathered at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City for the conference.
“I think we’re beginning to understand the role of mental health much more acutely but what we’re not doing is interrupting or interfering or providing diagnosis at the earliest possible time, not providing treatment, not providing the tools. So, yes we understand more from an academic or intellectual perspective but institutions are still operating the same,” said former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, executive director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.
The conference comes after the police killings last year of Najee Seabrooks in Paterson and Andrew Washington in Jersey City, both of whom were experiencing mental health crises when police responded. And it comes as the state is working to expand the Arrive Together program, which pairs mental health specialists with police officers when responded to emergency calls.
