Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition

Building a healthy and safe community through partnerships and collaboration.

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Our Story

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STRATEGIC EFFORTS

Improve cross-system collaboration to reduce involvement in the justice system by people with behavioral health disorders.

 

Increase behavioral health access to children, youth, and families within the schools and the juvenile justice system.

 

Improve the T36 /COE / COT process to better serve the needs of the Yavapai community.

 

Maintain an understanding of statewide legislation and policies that could affect or contribute to building a healthy and safe community.

Our Vision

The Yavapai Justice and Mental Health Coalition values the opportunities that our supporting justice partners, service agencies and individual members offer to our community. We acknowledge the challenges that some people face when struggling with unmet mental health and substance abuse needs and understand that these challenges have the potential for people to intersect with the criminal justice system. We have come together as a coalition because we want our community to know that we have hope. It is our pledge that our holistic, collaborative efforts will provide multiple opportunities for lives to transform; that, together, we are building a foundation for the future and stories of success. We know that collectively we are building a healthy and safe community.

Get Connected

The Yavapai Justice & Mental Health Coalition works with our community partners to provide opportunities, assistance and resources to the citizens of Yavapai County. 

The prevalence of mental illness in United States jails ranges between 25% and 40% of jail inmates.

Of these, 60 – 80% have co-occuring substance use disorders.

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Childhood abuse or neglect raises the chance of juvenile arrest by 59%, and the likelihood criminal behavior in adulthood increases by almost 30%.

77 – 90% of incarcerated women have extensive histories of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. 

Approximately 90% of juvenile detainees reported having experienced at least one traumatic event and 75% reported having been exposed to severe victimization.

Justice Brief: Juvenile and Criminal Justice Systems Health & Medicine Policy Research Group

Former inmates’ experience:

  • Decline in mental health treatment
  • Higher rate of emergency room use
  • Higher rate of homelessness
  • Higher rate of unemployment
  • Less financial and emotional support from family members

Center For Public Policy Priorities, 2014

Get In Touch

Location: 255 E. Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301

Telephone: (928)554-8820

Email: Beya.Thayer@yavapaiaz.gov