A national survey revealed that 7.2 percent of jail inmates have serious mental illnesses. Many persons with serious mental illness live homeless on the streets, do not receive proper psychiatric medication, and turn to alcohol and street drugs. They need services at one location. Community safety in cases of misdemeanant nonviolent offenders is better served by a diversion program that combines criminal justice, mental health services, drug abuse services, and other needed services than by a stay in jail. The National GAINS Center for People with Co-occurring Disorders in the Justice System is a partnership among federal agencies to promote effective solutions. A 5-year grant to Policy Research Associates will carry out the GAINS project through training and technical assistance to local governments to develop diversion programs, promote standards of care, and link agency services. Correctional professionals need to form collaborative teams among criminal justice, mental health, and drug abuse systems to accomplish diversion of mentally ill offenders, treatment in jail, and linkage to the community upon release. Families should be notified and questioned about the offender at the time of booking. Jail-based services should adhere to national mental health standards. Local officials and community agencies should provide for continuity of care. Source of further information