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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Criminal justice system

Mental Health Training: Strategies for Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies
Offers strategies for rural law enforcement departments to increase their mental health competency for the purpose of effective response to mental health crisis calls. Address challenges in both mental healthcare access in rural areas as well as mental health training access for law enforcement.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Council of State Governments, U.S. Department of Justice
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The Never-Ending Maze: Continued Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA
Report examining criminal justice, healthcare, and support service issues related to disparities in sexual violence for American Indian and Alaska Native women. Covers challenges due to jurisdictional limitations, challenges and opportunities in tribal policing, the need for training and access to rape kits at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, and culturally competent support for survivors of sexual violence.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Amnesty International
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The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans
Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking Final Report
Reports on synthetic drug trafficking in the U.S., including the challenges for law enforcement, need for updated drug policy, and surveillance and data analysis concerns. Discusses public health considerations and challenges for reducing the demand for drugs via treatment. Technical Appendixes include rural references throughout, and Figure B.5 shows opioid-involved overdose deaths by Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) for 2000-2019.
Additional links: Technical Appendixes
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, RAND Corporation, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate
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Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Arkansas 2022
Provides state, region, and county-level data for Arkansas related to substance abuse by youth. Identifies risk factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse, such as the number of arrests, unemployment, school infractions, and more, as well as associated public health outcomes.
Date: 2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, UA Little Rock MidSOUTH Center for Prevention and Training
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Planning a Reentry Program: A Toolkit for Tribal Communities
Toolkit provides information and guidance for developing a reentry program for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are transitioning from the criminal justice system to civilian life. Highlights evidence-based practices for reentry programs, including partnerships to connect returning citizens to housing, job training and placement, and medical, mental health, and/or substance use treatment, among other services.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Center for Court Innovation, Community Justice & Safety For All, U.S. Department of Justice
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COVID-19 and the Rural Opioid Epidemic: Recommendations to Improve Health in Illinois
Examines the rural opioid epidemic in Illinois and offers policy recommendations to increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) centers, engaging populations involved with the criminal justice system, and expanding harm reduction services. Offers data on state opioid fatality rates with rural and urban comparisons and monthly mortality rates based on state Department of Public Health data. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the opioid epidemic.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: SIU Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
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Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women: New Efforts Are Underway but Opportunities Exist to Improve the Federal Response
Report examining the data and jurisdictional challenges of addressing the missing or murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Describes efforts on the part of the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to improve data collection and support tribal governments and law enforcement and offers policy recommendations to improve planning and continue these efforts.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Improving Outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native People Returning to the Community from Incarceration: A Resource Guide for Service Providers
Seeks to improve outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native populations returning to their communities and families after incarceration by sharing information, research, program examples, and other resources addressing various topics including culturally responsive programs, violence, housing, substance use, mental health, education, employment, and more. Also shares special considerations for service providers working with children and families, youth, and women.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Native Americans, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Doulas Provide Support for Maternal and Infant Health in Rural Communities
Features a New Mexico doula program that reaches American Indian, Hispanic, and other populations who lack nearby labor/delivery units, a Minnesota program helping moms experiencing incarceration, and a North Dakota program training postpartum doulas to care for families impacted by opioid use disorder and other substance use.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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