In June of 2007 House Bill 1477 created the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program within the Department of Children and Families.  The program provides $3.8 million in grants to Florida counties to reduce the number of individuals with substance abuse disorders and mental health illness in local jails and state prisons. It was created to provide funding to counties so they can plan, implement or expand initiatives.

Subsequently, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners established the “Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Planning Council” comprised of representatives set forth in CS/CS/HB 1477, [Chapter NO. 2007-200, Laws of Florida]. The Council was created by resolution on September 25, 2007, and was organizationally placed under the Palm Beach County’s Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) who will be the administrative office for the Council.

The purposes of the Council as set forth in the resolution are to:

• Plan, implement, or expand initiatives that increase public safety, avert increased spending on criminal justice, and improve the accessibility and effectiveness of treatment services for adults and juveniles who have a mental illness, substance abuse disorder, or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder and who are in, or at risk of entering, the criminal or juvenile justice systems; and
• Make formal recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding how the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program may best be implemented within Palm Beach County; and
• Prepare the application on behalf of county administration for submission to the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, Inc. for review


Chair
Commissioner Priscilla A. Taylor
PBC Board of County Commissioners




Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Planning Council Members

Rosalyn Baker, Department of Corrections
Vice-Chairman, Peter Blanc, Chief Judge
Cathy Claud, Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office
Victoria Cury, Family Member of a Primary Consumer of Community-based Treatment Services
Dr. Linda De Piano, Chief Executive Officer, Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
Superintendent Anthony Flowers, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Jaime Estremera-Fitzgerald, Area Agency on Aging, Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Inc.
Chief Deputy Michael Gauger, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Leonard Hanser, County Court Judge
Feirmon Johnson, Circuit 15 Manager, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Jennifer Loyless, Public Defender's Office
Phillip Ludos, Chief's of Police Association
Judge Krista Marx, Circuit Court, Criminal Division
John McDermott, Primary Consumer of Mental Health Services
Nate Nichols, Children's Services Council
Elizabeth Parker, State Attorney's Office
Mary Quinlan, Court Administration
Dr. Sandra Richmond, Palm Beach County School District
Alton Taylor, Drug Abuse Foundation of PBC
Charles Trotta, Manager, PBC Pretrial Services Agency
Michelle Woodside, Primary Consumer of Substance Abuse Services
Vacant, Health Department
Vacant, Homeless Center representative
Vacant, Practicing Psychiatrist

Criminal Justice Commission (CJC)

301 North Olive Avenue,
Suite 1001
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-4943
Fax: (561) 355-4941

E-mail the CJC