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Support People with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System

People with mental health conditions are overrepresented in our nation’s criminal justice system. Every day, 5,000 people with mental health conditions are booked into jails and prisons – often held for committing non-violent, minor offenses related to the symptoms of untreated illness.

Jails and prisons are ill-equipped to meet the complex needs of individuals with mental illness. Communities should invest in polices and solutions that are evidence-based and help people with mental illness get on a path of recovery. We can all play a role.

Add your name to our petition to tell policymakers that the impact of the criminal justice system on people with mental illness won’t be overlooked anymore. By adding your name, we’ll let you know about opportunities to contact your policymakers to push for a more fair and equitable mental health system.

Want to learn more about criminal justice and mental health? NAMI has launched a new campaign – Overlooked: Stories of Mental Illness and Criminal Justice – to help educate our policymakers and communities. Learn more at nami.org/overlooked 

Act now!

NAMI champions better care and better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions. Join our movement!

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