101321: The Nathaniel Project: An Alternative to Incarceration Program for People With Serious Mental Illness Who Have Committed Felony Offenses

About the Course:

As growing awareness of the needs of people with co-occurring disorders in the justice system has led to the development of diversion models, the vast majority of efforts have focused on defendants who are charged with nonviolent, low-level misdemeanor offenses. This publication discusses the Nathaniel Project, a program for people with serious mental illness who have committed felony offenses.

Journal/Publisher:

The GAINS Center

Publication Date:

Fall 2002/Revised Summer 2005

Author

The GAINS Center

About the Authors:

The National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Justice System is a national center for the collection and dissemination of information about effective mental health and substance abuse services for people with co-occurring disorders who come in contact with the justice system.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially addiction counselors, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about an alternative to incarceration program for people with serious mental illness who have committed felony offenses. It is appropriate for all levels of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Explain the genesis of and need for the Nathaniel Project.

2. Discuss Nathaniel Project results.

3. Identify emergent principles gleaned from experiences of the Nathaniel Project which can be applied to other programs.