In 2014, the Franklin County (Columbus), Ohio, Criminal Justice Planning Board was selected to serve as a County Justice and Behavioral Health Systems Demonstration Site. Demonstration sites receive in-depth technical assistance from the CSG Justice Center to pursue goals such as increasing public safety, reducing jail costs, and helping connect individuals with mental and substance use disorders to effective community-based health services. Franklin County was selected because of the strength of cooperation between its various criminal-justice-related agencies. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; the Franklin County Board of Commissioners; the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board of Franklin County; the Franklin County Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs; the Columbus City Attorney’s Office; the Franklin County Prosecutor and Public Defender offices; and leadership from the Franklin County Municipal and Common Pleas Courts and Probation departments all worked together on the project. An extensive data analysis coupled with over 50 in-person interviews with local and state leaders led to the identification of key recommendations for reducing the number of people with behavioral health disorders cycling in and out of jail.
Franklin County, Ohio – A County Justice and Behavioral Health Systems Improvement Project
Related Resources
Online Tools

Stepping Up County Self-Assessment
Correctional Facilities, Mental Health, Co-Occurring Substance Use
Field Notes

Surveying Participants to Strengthen Behavioral Health-Criminal Justice Programs
Correctional Facilities, Mental Health, Co-Occurring Substance Use
Field Notes

Embedding Clinicians in the Criminal Justice System
Correctional Facilities, Courts, Crisis Systems, Law Enforcement, Mental Health, Co-Occurring Substance Use