While having a mental health diagnosis does not make a person more likely to commit a crime, an overwhelming number of people involved in the criminal justice system have unmet health, mental health, and substance use needs. The availability and unavailability of appropriate health services, under the law and in practice, can lead to the "making or unmaking of a criminal." This four-week course for three credits involves the intersection of criminal law and justice and health law and policy. Students will learn about the impediments to providing care in the usually siloed criminal and health care systems. By exploring differences in the US and UK, students will learn how to problem-spot and identify opportunities for better coordination that would improve outcomes for justice-involved people.

Summer 2025
May 17 – June 14