By Samira Schreiber, Stephanie Pasternak and Kathryn Gilley, with contributions from Shannon Scully, Jessica Tornabene and Hannah Wesolowski.

   People with mental illness are disproportionately represented in our nation’s criminal justice system. About two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness.This is twice the prevalence of mental illness within the overall population. These numbers represent real people that our mental health system has failed. Fortunately, we know that diversion from the criminal justice system is possible, and NAMI believes that people with mental illness should be diverted at every possible opportunity and be connected to mental health care. One of the best tools for understanding how communities can divert individuals with mental health and substance use conditions away from criminal justice system involvement is the Sequential Intercept Model (often referred to as SIM).  

  Arlington, VA: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2024. 28p.