Despite the large number of mentally ill individuals in jails and prisons and under supervision in the community, the criminal justice system is apparently not prepared to meet the special needs of these individuals; for example, only 15 percent of probation departments nationwide acknowledge operating a special program for mentally ill probationers. Most parole agents lack the knowledge and experience to supervise mentally ill clients. A national survey found that fewer than 25 percent of parole administrators reported operating specialized programs for mentally ill clients. Even an inmate who receives some type of mental health treatment while incarcerated will find that discharge planning does not exist. This can result in mentally ill persons being released into the community with no medication, follow-up appointments, or guidance for contacting community mental health agencies. Mental health courts are one mechanism for enlisting probation officers to assist in linking released inmates to community mental health services. Assertive community treatment is another approach that uses a multidisciplinary team to coordinate treatment and supervision options for individuals with mental illness. Some officers within the Federal probation and pretrial services system have been classified as mental health specialists. They typically have a strong foundation in mental health education; some are licensed/certified clinical social workers, counselors, or psychologists. These officers routinely participate in a variety of mental health and/or substance abuse treatment training venues. Although the Federal probation system can pay for at least some of these services, this is not generally the case with State supervision agencies. 59 references