MISSION: The DC Jail Advocacy Project is an outgrowth of ULS’ PAIMI Program but separately funded through private foundations which enable us to conduct outreach to assist DC residents with psychiatric disabilities in the DC Jail or Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) who are planning their reentry into the community. Our goal is to redress abuse, neglect or discrimination which increase periods of incarceration and serve as barriers to successful reentry for men and women with psychiatric disabilities.

The following priorities and objectives reflect ULS’ commitment to promote individual choice, autonomy, and inclusion in community life.

PRIORITY 1: Provide direct advocacy services for persons preparing to transition home from jail or prison and seeking social integration, access to healthcare and support for their major needs.

Represent individual consumers living in the community experiencing sustained criminal justice contacts with parole, probation, or criminal court in their efforts to obtain appropriate, individualized mental health services.

Represent individuals with mental illness and assist them with obtaining access to appropriate community-based services within the first year of their release from the D.C. Jail and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Advocate for greater inter-agency coordination and more access to intensive and inclusive community-based services for criminal-justice involved individuals with mental illness who also have a co-occurring intellectual disability, physical disability, or complex medical needs.

Represent men and women with psychiatric disabilities who request assistance while they are incarcerated in DC or the FBOP or request assistance within 90 days of release from behind bars on one of the following objectives:

• Promote full accessibility of recovery programs, housing, community corrections, and other government-funded programs for people with psychiatric disabilities and protect against delay or denial in services due to disability.
  
• Investigate abuse and neglect complaints where there is probable cause to suspect abuse or neglect inside correctional facilities.
  
• Advocate that the Department of Mental Health and DC Medicaid promote self-determination and consumer choice and provide quality services and supports.
  
• Work through parole and criminal defense sentencing mitigation to ensure all persons with psychiatric disabilities have access to services in the most integrated community settings.
  
• Advocate for appropriate services and inclusion in the community for individuals who are preparing for discharge from the DC Jail.
  
• Advocate for appropriate services and inclusion in the community for individuals returning to DC from federal prison with priority to individuals exiting from prison straight to the streets.
  
• Advocate for appropriate services and inclusion in the community for individuals under parole or probation community supervision who are at imminent risk of incarceration.
  
• Advocate against the improper use of seclusion, restraint, and medication at facilities where DC residents receive services.
  
• Strengthen self-advocacy and social integration after reentry through peer-based outreach and support.

PRIORITY TWO: Advance public awareness through direct advocacy and public education through the following objectives:

• Provide outreach and education to administrative and policy-making bodies, advocates, and service providers to promote self-determination, consumer choice, incorporation of best practices and high quality services in the least restrictive environment.
  

  a. Conduct workshops on the above topics by training participants who may include mental health clinicians, correctional staff, parole officers/examiners/commissioners, defense attorneys, correctional administrators and other advocates.
  
  b. Conduct outreach and education to staff at core services agencies, assertive community treatment (ACT) teams, or inpatient facilities about community-based supports provided by agencies and programs other than the Department of Mental Health.
  

• Provide outreach and education to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons to promote their self-determination, self-advocacy, knowledge of resources and legal rights and autonomy in developing self-directed treatment and living opportunities.
  

  a. Meet individually with men and women face-to-face to provide them educational resources or assist with making referrals and service connection to other agencies.
  
  b. Conduct outreach and education sessions for consumers and staff at St. Elizabeths Hospital (Forensic).
  
  c. Conduct outreach and education sessions for youth or adults receiving mental health treatment inside correctional facilities.
  
  d. Train incarcerated or formerly incarcerated workshop participants on health and disability rights and effective transition planning approaches.
  
  e. Distribute self-advocacy package of Mental Health Reentry Guide and other ULS materials.
  
  f. Develop and manage user-friendly website for access to DC Jail and Prison Advocacy and other ULS training resources.
  
  

• Promote the leadership of formerly incarcerated men and women in the training and campaigns aimed at spreading public awareness on the basic rights of persons using mental health services in the criminal justice system and optimizing their leadership, competency in shaping the services, systems that impact them.

  a. Conduct customized organizing trainings for core group of formerly incarcerated individuals and allies.
  
  b. Facilitate networking opportunities for constituency to learn from other peer-led campaigns.
  
  c. Develop and manage internet list-serve to distribute action alerts regarding policy events and ongoing systemic advocacy.

PRIORITY THREE: Advance systemic reform and leverage local governmental commitments to implement a public health model which provides for continuity of care and services with transparency and human rights and public health protections for all individuals.

ULS continues to prioritize our long-term aim to alter the policies and practices that are the source of the disproportionately high number of people with psychiatric disabilities behind bars. To that end, we will continue to partner with both public and private agencies to meet the following objectives:

• Provide education to and testify at City Council budget and oversight hearings about problems in the mental health system in the District of Columbia.

• Challenge the community’s reliance on incarceration, particularly in response to technical violations of community supervision.

• Promote the inclusion of evidence-based treatment practices including trauma-informed care within correctional and community service provision for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event including threats of death, serious injury or threats to the physical integrity of self or others.

• Improve discharge planning procedures at the DC Jail and FBOP promote a public health model that provides continuity of care and services with transparency, dignity, human rights and public health protections as youth and adults with mental illness transfer through the District’s criminal justice system.

a. In partnership with Policy Research Associates, convene meetings to support new policies and practices expediting social security benefits applications for incarcerated individuals with disabilities.

b. Draft and train FBOP staff on APIC-based tool for assessing DC residents’ community care needs prior to release.

• Advocate for independent living options for people who need low-income housing and services and supports.

a. Partner with Corporation for Supportive Housing to incorporate the best practices of the ULS 2009-2010 supportive housing model into local administrative release planning for individuals exiting DOC or FBOP.

• Optimize the competency and dignity of individuals with mental illness to advance their voice in public discussions and policy making.

a. Provide administrative support for peer-led organizing campaign for policy proposals.

b. Convene a public awareness event to connect constituency concerns with decision makers and community stakeholders.

c. Coordinate networking opportunities for peer organizing group to engage and learn from other peer-led initiatives.

d. Support peer leaders’ opportunities to speak or testify at administrative meetings, legislative hearings and public briefings.

e. Provide technical assistance to and collaborate with consumer-directed advocacy organizations, including the Consumer Action Network, the Consumer Leadership Forum, and the Ida Mae Campbell Wellness Center.

CASE SELECTION CRITERIA
The DC Jail Advocacy Staff serves men, women and youth who meet all of the following criteria: 1) have a significant mental illness or emotional impairment as determined by a mental health professional; 2) are or have been incarcerated at the DC Central Detention Facility, Correctional Treatment Facility or as a DC resident within the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and 3) who, during his or her incarceration or within first year after release, request help for problems falling within one of the aforementioned priorities.

The ULS staff is not authorized or able to represent everyone. Requests for assistance are assessed on a case-by-case basis. If ULS is not able to take your case, we will try to provide you with information and/or refer you to another organization.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

While we recognize that every situation is important, please note that case acceptance is dependent upon available resources, including staff time. If your case is not accepted and you wish to file a grievance, please submit your grievance in writing to the Executive Director. Current clients may also submit a grievance to the Executive Director about the quality of ULS’ representation. A client may lodge an oral grievance with a ULS staff member who shall put the grievance in writing and submit it to the Executive Director. The Executive Director may be reached at:

Jane Brown, Executive Director
University Legal Services
220 I Street, N.E., Suite 130
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547-0198 Phone
(202) 547-2662 Fax
(202) 547-2657 TTY

The Executive Director shall respond in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of a grievance from any client or prospective client, or community member who has an interest in the operation of the protection and advocacy program.

A grievant may appeal the Executive Director’s decision to the ULS Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the written decision of the Executive Director. The decision of the ULS Board of Directors shall be final and not subject to further appeal or review. Client confidentiality shall be maintained.

The Executive Director shall report grievances to the Board of Directors annually.

P.E.E.R.S. Coalition: Promoting Empowerment, Education and Reentry Solutions