C20 - From Courtroom to Care Plan: Universal Screening Approaches to Health and Justice Integration

Monday, April 27, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 3E

Unrestricted Education Sponsor

This session examines how universal screening bridges behavioral health and justice systems. Criminogenic risk research and evidence-based diversion strategies will be reviewed, demonstrating how screening helps identify individuals’ needs and public safety risks for quicker connection to appropriate care pathways and diversion opportunities. Emphasis is placed on civil mental health strategies, including community-based crisis care, rather than continued criminal justice involvement. Practical implementation steps and real-world examples funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance are included.

Learning Objectives:

Explore the relevance of criminogenic risk and need factors in clinical decision making, including how universal screening supports early identification of behavioral health needs and informs interventions with justice-involved populations
Discuss processes that use clinical and legal indicators to identify individuals who may benefit from diversion strategies, including civil mental health diversions such as community-based crisis services, rather than continued justice involvement
Identify practical steps clinicians can take to support the implementation of universal screening practices and contribute to measuring their impact on client outcomes and system performance

Disclosure(s):

Nisha Wilson, LPC: No financial relationships to disclose

Ariel Joseph, LPC: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Nisha Wilson, LPC

Director, Center for Advancing Justice
All Rise
Alexandria, Virginia

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Ariel Joseph, LPC

Chief Operating Officer
Red Rock Behavioral Health Services
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose