The Jail Based Behavioral Health Services (JBBS) Program has been operational since October 2011 with funding from the Correctional Treatment Cash Fund pursuant to C.R.S.18-19-103 (5)(c)(V). The goal of the JBBS Program is to provide appropriate behavioral health services to inmates while supporting continuity of care within the community after release from incarceration.
To carry out the JBBS program, sheriff departments may partner with local community provider(s) who can demonstrate the ability to provide services within the jail, and the capacity to provide or link individuals releasing from jail to free or low cost services in the community. This approach should result in shorter jail sentences and decreased recidivism through better identification and treatment of behavioral health needs.
The JBBS substance use disorder program funds provision of evidence-based behavioral health services, with continuity of care extending into the community. Sheriff departments are recipients of these funds, either individually, or as multiple county sheriff departments as a partnership. In accordance with the legislation, all funds are used to provide behavioral health services for adults with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
Sheriff departments have partnered with local community providers who are currently licensed by OBH to provide services within the jail and have the capacity to provide free or low-cost services in the community to inmates upon release. Most programs have at least a clinician position to offer screenings, assessment and treatment in the jail and a case manager position dedicated to transitional care and a seamless re-entry in treatment services in the community. Treatment providers screen all inmates for presence of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, trauma and traumatic brain injury and identify inmates with active duty or veteran military status.
In May 2018 the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 18-250, which allocated $5.1 million in additional funding to the JBBS program to address gaps in services for mental health disorder screening, assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The funds support psychiatric prescription services and the purchase of medications. In accordance with the legislation, all funds are dedicated to providing behavioral health services for adults (18 years of age and older) with mental health disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
JBBS Resources
Quarterly Work Group Meeting Recordings