Connecticut Appleseed

Related Link: Recent Accomplishments

MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Parents of and advocates for adults afflicted with some form of mental illness need to understand how the criminal justice system works in order to work to best advantage with an attorney. NAMI-CT had seen that caretakers need an easily-understandable legal guide that would help them know what to expect from the criminal justice system. After helping Sheppard Mullin’s volunteer attorneys to define the key issues and access key in-state mental health experts, this new guide began to take shape in late 2008.

Parent/Family/Advocate Guide Completed in Spring, 2009

Connecticut Appleseed and NAMI-CT released “Understanding the Criminal Justice System: A Guide for Adults with Mental Illness, Advocates & Families” after rigorous review of the by members of the state’s legal and mental health communities. User-friendliness, clarity and accuracy were the editing priorities in order to maxime its usefulness.

NAMI-CT is taking the lead in disseminating copies of the new guide throughout the state. After printing an initial 500 copies, Connecticut Appleseed is looking for funding sources for a larger press run in order to give this uniquely valuable resource the circulation deserves.

E-NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP:
Sign-up to receive our free e-newsletter. Simply type in your email address below and click on the submit button. QUICK LINKS TO OUR PROJECTS:

	Hartford H.E.L.P.
	Breaking Schools to Prisons Pipeline: Best Practices to Keep Kids in School
	Dental Care for Disadvantaged Children
	Education: Improving Parental Involvement in No Child Left Behind (“NCLB”)
	Education: Parent Empowerment Workshops in 2007
	Education: Increasing Parent Access to Basic Education Law Information
	Mental Illness and The Criminal Justice System
	Elder Law Education
	Expanding Immigrants’ Access to Financial Services
	Literacy Connects Inmates & Their Children

A PART OF THE APPLESEED NETWORK
www.appleseednetwork.org

Appleseed, a non-partisan and non-profit organization, is a network of public interest law Centers working to identify and address injustices in their communities. Appleseed works to build a just society through education, legal advocacy, community activism and policy expertise, addressing root causes and producing practical solutions. As one of the nation's largest legal pro bono networks, Appleseed Centers work both independently and collectively, bringing their own experiences to create local solutions that are nationally relevant. We connect the top private practice lawyers, corporate counsel, law schools, civic leaders, and other professionals to tackle problems locally, at their root cause.