Criminal Justice Programs

Our specialized programs work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and the courts to connect you with treatment instead of incarceration, helping you get back on track.

Criminal Justice Partnership Programs

Connecting Justice with Healing

Alliance Healthcare Services partners with Memphis's criminal justice system to break the cycle of incarceration by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior through comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Our programs serve as bridges between the courthouse and recovery, offering alternatives that benefit individuals, families, and the entire community.

Criminal Justice Program based at Shelby County Division of Corrections (SCDC)

Alliance subcontracts with Wellpath to serve as the mental health provider for the residents/detainees at SCDC.

This program employees staff who provide an array of mental health services to include: individual therapy, group therapy (psychosocial and psychoeducational groups), intake assessments, suicide precaution and prevention services, crisis intervention, peer support services, as well as discharge planning/re-entry services.

All psychoeducational groups each follow a 12-week evidence-based curriculum from which the participants can earn a certificate of completion. Various approaches are used in the services provided to include, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-CBT, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy-DBT and Cognitive Processing Therapy-CPT.

The Criminal Justice Program staff are onsite 7 days a week. Referrals for this program are received from the detainees as self-referrals, SCDC staff, sick calls (daily mental health requests) and community partners who are on site at SCDC. For additional information please email justice@alliance-hs.org.

Mental Health Court

The Shelby County Mental Health Court provides an alternative to jail by offering mental health care and other services needed by the individual.

Alliance participated in its development and has staff attending the weekly court proceedings, ensuring seamless coordination between legal requirements and therapeutic goals.

Alliance provides pharmacy services for the court, guaranteeing participants have immediate access to prescribed medications without barriers.

Jericho Project

The Jericho Project is a post-disposition and jail diversion strategy for people diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Co-Occurring Disorders.

Alliance has partnered with the Public Defender's Office since 1995 to provide intensive outpatient treatment that includes a psychiatrist and/or nurse practitioner, therapist, recovery support specialist and case manager.

This comprehensive team approach addresses both mental health and legal challenges simultaneously, helping participants rebuild their lives while meeting court obligations.

Take the first step. Call (901) 369-1410 today.

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Federal Probation Program

Alliance maintains a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide psychiatric services for individuals in need of outpatient behavioral health services since 2007.

Our specialized team understands the unique challenges faced by federal probationers, offering evidence-based treatment that supports successful community reintegration.

This long-standing partnership demonstrates our commitment to serving justice-involved individuals regardless of the complexity of their legal situations.

Mobile Crisis Assessments

Mobile Crisis Assessments are provided to anyone incarcerated who is 18 and older, bringing mental health expertise directly into the jail environment.

Telehealth is offered as well to expedite assessments, ensuring rapid response when individuals are experiencing psychiatric emergencies behind bars. This immediate intervention prevents escalation and connects people to appropriate treatment resources upon release.

Office of Reentry

The Office of Reentry refers individuals who need mental health and substance abuse treatment as they transition back into the community.

These partnerships recognize that successful reentry requires addressing underlying behavioral health conditions that may have contributed to criminal behavior.

Our collaborative approach ensures that returning citizens have the support they need to rebuild their lives and avoid recidivism.

Referrals and Admissions

Referrals and admissions occur through our open access intake process, eliminating barriers that might prevent justice-involved individuals from accessing care.

Intakes and psychiatric evaluations are available same day Monday through Friday during normal business hours, recognizing that timing is critical for this vulnerable population.

Referrals are received from specialty courts and jail discharge staff, creating a seamless pathway from incarceration to treatment and recovery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What criminal justice programs does Alliance operate?

Alliance runs behavioral health services at the Shelby County Division of Corrections, supports the Shelby County Mental Health Court, partners with the Public Defender on the Jericho Project, provides Federal Probation behavioral health care since 2007, runs Mobile Crisis Assessments inside the jail, and accepts Office of Reentry referrals for returning citizens.

How does the Shelby County Mental Health Court work with Alliance?

The Shelby County Mental Health Court offers an alternative to jail by ordering mental health treatment instead of incarceration. Alliance staff attend weekly court proceedings, coordinate care for participants, and operate the on-site pharmacy that fills medications for court-involved clients without delay or barriers.

What is the Jericho Project at Alliance?

Jericho is a post-disposition and jail diversion program for adults living with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders. Alliance has partnered with the Shelby County Public Defender's Office since 1995. The team includes a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, therapist, certified peer recovery specialist, and case manager working together with each client.

Can Alliance help someone being released from jail or prison?

Yes. The Office of Reentry refers people leaving incarceration to Alliance for mental health and substance use treatment. Alliance Mobile Crisis also conducts assessments inside the jail, often via telehealth, so returning citizens have a treatment plan and a connection to care before release rather than after a crisis.

How do I refer someone in the justice system to Alliance care?

For Shelby County Division of Corrections referrals, contact SCDC staff or email justice@alliance-hs.org. For Mental Health Court, Jericho, or Office of Reentry referrals, those agencies refer directly into Alliance. Family members or attorneys can also call (901) 369-1410 to start an outpatient intake while criminal cases are pending.