Jail alternatives pass Congress

OCTOBER 25, 2000

Both houses of Congress have passed a bill giving the Attorney General the authority to make grants to state, local, or tribal governments to create prison alternatives to mentally ill offenders who commit non-violent crimes.

Up to 100 programs could be created by the bill. Up to $10 million a year for four years would be available to create mental health courts, which are patterned after drug courts.

Get the Bill:
A bill to provide grants to establish demonstration mental health courts (S.1865)

Get the Story:
Congress Backs Prison Alternatives (AP 10/25)

Related Stories:
Judges say drug courts work (Tribal Law 09/12)
Tribes awarded key funding (Tribal Law 7/7)
Tribal grantees in Drug Court Program (Tribal Law 7/7)
DOJ: No California Tribes applied (Tribal Law 7/7)