Since 2015, the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) has grown to an over $400 million national initiative funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The initiative supports collaboration among local leaders and selected communities to reduce over-incarceration in local criminal legal systems by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. Policy Research, Inc. (PRI) has partnered with the MacArthur Foundation to help SJC communities reduce the number of individuals with mental illness, substance use, and other complex needs who are involved, or at risk of involvement with, their local criminal legal system. The SJC has grown over 10 years to become a broad network of over 100 cities and counties. The following is a glimpse into the work of 17 SJC sites, led by Policy Research and known as the IMPACT Network, that have participated in a behavioral-health-focused peer learning model.
PRI initiated the first cohort of 11 SJC IMPACT Network sites in 2021, with a second cohort of 6 sites added in 2023 (learn more about the sites, their approaches, and participating leadership):
Cohorts 1 and 2 of the IMPACT Network
The IMPACT Network teams have participated in topical technical assistance focused on tracking and evaluating behavioral health and developing deflection and diversion strategies, including responding to individuals in crisis, building a robust jail continuum of care, and creating systems change. Most sites have also hosted one or more Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping Workshops to advance community-based solutions for people with behavioral health and other complex needs.
In addition to participating in regular individual and cross-site technical assistance, the 17 sites convene annually to strengthen their behavioral health strategies and learn from each other. For four years, PRI has engaged artists from The Sketch Effect to capture summary messaging at the convenings through graphic recording. Below, we highlight broad focus areas from the meetings and images of the graphic recording boards.
IMPACT Network Convenings
September 2022: A Focus on Peers
In September 2022, IMPACT Network sites met for the first time in Atlanta, GA, to learn about promising peer-led alternatives for building sustainable care ecosystems. Presenters from community-based services and mental health rights organizations, including the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, highlighted how peers can be utilized across systems and agencies.
Two graphic recording digital boards illustrating topics covered at a meeting of the Safety and Justice Challenge Impact Network in 2022.
May 2023: Focus on Brain Injury
In May 2023, IMPACT Network sites met again in St. Louis, MO. Presenters from the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) emphasized the importance of identification and support for people with brain injury throughout the criminal legal system. PRI also highlighted its SJC research on how jurisdictions can better identify and understand the needs of people with frequent jail contact. Finally, a panel of presenters, including the Health and Reentry Project (HARP), spoke about new Medicaid correctional reentry policy changes (a topic which later became a stronger SJC focus, culminating in a 2-day standalone meeting in 2025).
A graphic recording digital board illustrating topics covered at a meeting of the Safety and Justice Challenge Impact Network in 2023.
May 2024: Focus on Correctional Healthcare Contracts
IMPACT Network sites met for the third time in Houston, TX, in May 2024. PRI spoke about the importance of jail and prison healthcare contracts and gave a preview of a new RFP Toolkit to help sites improve correctional care and outcomes. Multiple IMPACT sites also presented on their behavioral health and criminal legal systems change efforts, particularly sustaining changes through policies, data, and relationships.
A graphic recording digital board illustrating topics covered at a meeting of the Safety and Justice Challenge Impact Network in 2024.
April 2025: Focus on Complex Needs in the Criminal Legal System
The IMPACT Network sites met most recently in April 2025 in Chicago, IL. This final in-person convening was structured around solutions for people with complex needs, including substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, multigenerational trauma, unstable housing, serious mental illness, and personality disorders. PRI recognized the challenges in addressing individuals’ complex needs across the criminal legal system and heard about promising strategies from Dr. Kathleen Kruse, a forensic psychiatrist at the University of Michigan Medical School.
A graphic recording digital board illustrating topics covered at a meeting of the Safety and Justice Challenge Impact Network in 2025.
Evolution of Focus
Over the past 4 years, IMPACT Network sites’ capacity, readiness, and focus have shifted from targeted interventions to system-wide, data-informed strategies. Sites are prepared to provide sustainable, integrated support to meet myriad presentations of complex needs.
Learn More
Stay tuned to learn more about the SJC IMPACT Network sites’ work in the months to come. To learn more about the IMPACT Network sites and efforts, check out the following resources: