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Library of Publications

Report of the Community Policing and Behavioral Health Advisory Council

October 20, 2023

Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and Technical Assistance Collaborative

This legislative study provides an in-depth review of the Massachusetts crisis system and offers recommendations to maximize the use of best practices for a system that is organized, integrated, and accessible.

The History of Bridgewater State Hospital

October 2, 2023

Jennifer Honig, JD, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health

Bridgewater State Hospital is Massachusetts’ prison for men with serious psychiatric needs who also have pending criminal charges or convictions or who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission: Year Four Findings and Recommendations

April 26, 2022

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission

This legislative report describes activities the Commission completed in Year Four, including the development of procurement documents, changes to the service model, and a timeline for implementation of a restoration center in Middlesex County.

Efficacy of Service Delivery Reforms at Bridgewater State Hospital

March 4, 2022

Disability Law Center

The Disability Law Center's report finds significant inadequacies in treatment at Bridgewater State Hospital.

Behavioral Health Crisis and Diversion from the Criminal Justice System: A Model for Effective Community Response

June 16, 2021

Bren Manaugh

Involvement in the criminal justice system compounds the challenges faced by people with behavioral health issues, interrupting access to benefits, treatment relationships and routines and other sources of support and stability, and making them vulnerable to trauma.

Criminal Legal System Diversion: Creating a Behavioral Health Emergency Response System

May 13, 2021

MAMH

We know that the involvement of police can escalate a behavioral health crisis, causing fear or triggering trauma reactions. Yet individuals experiencing a crisis and their families often find themselves with nowhere to turn but 911.

Fact Sheet: Restoration Center, Creating a behavioral health crisis and urgent care center

April 21, 2021

MAMH

This brief document outlines details on creating a behavioral health crisis and urgent care center, and the corresponding line items/sections of the 2022 budget that would fund this center.

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission Year Three Findings and Recommendations

April 13, 2021

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission

This Year Three report of the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission provides a plan for accomplishing the task of piloting a Restoration Center in Middlesex County and legislative recommendations for Year Four of the Commission.

MAMH FY22 Budget Priorities

April 12, 2021

MAMH

MAMH's FY22 budget priorities.

The Ruderman White Paper on Law Enforcement Use of Force and Disability

November 2, 2020

Ruderman Family Foundation

Disabled individuals make up a third to half of all people killed by law enforcement officers and most of those killed in use-of-force cases that attract widespread attention.

Just and Well: Rethinking How States Approach Competency to Stand Trial

October 29, 2020

Council on State Governments

This report focuses on how to improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health disorders who enter the justice system but are found not competent to stand trial.

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission Year Two Findings and Recommendations

May 21, 2020

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission

This Year Two report of the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission submits findings from a planning process to design a restoration center in Middlesex County.