Rensselaer County used the jail as a focal point for developing a comprehensive continuum of care for people with co-occurring disorders in the criminal justice system. Taking advantage of the technical assistance provided by the GAINS Center (a policy research center), a multidisciplinary Forensic Task Force was established to develop services for individuals with co-occurring problems related to mental health, substance abuse, alcoholism, or mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The Task Force, which is now in the second phase of its operation, is working toward the development of a system of integrated services and a complete continuum of care. Resources have been pooled from private, county, State, and Federal service delivery systems. Achievements stem from offering addicts a variety of services tailored to individual need and circumstances. The comprehensive effort includes the operation of a drug court and an increase in jail treatment and educational services. One of the most successful efforts has been to increase aftercare services for detainees released into the community. The initial effort to collect outcome data is promising. 10 references