Advancing Equity at the Intersection of Race, Mental Illness, and Criminal Justice Involvement

Deanna Adams supervises the Behavioral Health and Collaborative Justice Unit within the Criminal Justice Services department of the Judicial Council of California, the policymaking body of California's judicial branch. She oversees staff and projects focused on collaborative courts, mental health diversion, competency to stand trial, and other areas related to behavioral health needs of people moving through adult criminal courts. Prior to this role, she was with the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the Chief Probation Officers of California, and worked directly with people moving through the justice system. Deanna is appointed to the City of Sacramento Ethics Commission, sits on the Board of Directors for the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, and is vice chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section's Alternatives to Incarceration and Diversion Committee. She currently lives in Sacramento, California.

Table of Contents




Part I: Foundations




1. Scoping the Problem




2. Getting Grounded: Foundational Practice Tips for Recognizing Mental Illness Stigma




Part II: How Criminal Justice Professionals Can Help Advance Equity




3. Ethical Pathways to Advocacy




4. Establishing Lawyering Tools for Advance Equity




Part III: Equity on Both Sides of the Adversarial System




5. The Role of Prosecutors in Advancing Equity

6. The Role of Defense Attorneys in Advancing Equity




Part IV: Advancing Equity Across the Criminal Justice Continuum




7. Intent Criminal Justice Involvement and Pre-Adjudication




8. Post-Adjudication and the Aftermath of Criminal Justice Involvement




9. Special Considerations for Witnesses and Survivors of Crime




Part V: Moving from Theory to Action




10. Navigating Authorities to Advance Equity