Supporting Improved Responses to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This document presents four overarching themes that emerged from four Justice and Mental Health Collaboration grant programs, which were provided through a partnership with The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center; the technical assistance and financial support grants aimed to improve responses to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This document highlights those four themes and gives an overview of each grantees program, including the work they have done with the help of the technical assistance. An appendix provides more resources to expand or improve services for people with IDD. The four overarching themes demonstrate challenges to improved response, and include: lack of research on IDD; lack of screening tools; siloed and inaccessible IDD services; and need for training for criminal justice professionals.