Manhattan Arraignment Diversion Project (MAP)


Did You Know?

  • Studies show that those with mental illness are more likely to be arrested, sentenced more severely and detained longer in jail than those with similar charges.
  • A recent study found that 14.5% of male and 31.0% of female inmates recently admitted to jail have a serious mental illness.
  • In NYC, the traditional criminal justice model at the first court hearing, arraignments, offered little to assist those living with mental illness who are arrested.
  1. What is MAP?

    MAP is an early intervention, inter-disciplinary legal team in selected New York County arraignments parts to represent defendants with mental illness. The Project aims to better identify, assess and represent individuals with mental illness facing criminal charges. These legal teams, which include a clinical social worker, paralegal and peer intern, will work collaboratively with the Legal Aid Society attorneys to provide essential social services to better screen, assess and effectuate the best legal outcome for clients.

  2. What are the benefits of MAP?

    First and foremost, MAP improves our ability to identify those detainees with mental health issues awaiting arraignment. As noted above, many persons with mental illness walk out of arraignments with no referral for services. This is important as proper identification of mental illness may lead to a favorable disposition, including diversion, and client referral or linkage to services in the community. We believe MAP will also have positive impacts for those not diverted at arraignments through early identification of client issues and needs, reducing the number of court adjournments and jail days and minimize or properly address clients who may have issues related to fitness.

  3. What is the systemic impact?

    • Improves court efficiency through streamlining legal cases involving detainees with mental illness.
    • Improves court staff (lawyers, judges and court officers) ability to recognize and understand mental illness.
    • Allows for an examination of an early intervention team model on public defender practices.

  4. What are my rights or the rights of my loved one?

    • You or your loved one have a right to privacy for all your psychological, psychiatric and medical information.
    • You or a family member have the right to mental health, medical and medication services in NYC jails. For more information ask to see a social worker or psychiatrist in the jail.
    • If you or someone you know receives mental health counseling and/or medication in NYC jails, you have a right to work with a discharge planner who should arrange for your return to community treatment. For assistance, ask to meet with a discharge planner in the city jail.

Collaboration: The implementation of MAP will build on the work of the New York County Criminal Court Misdemeanor Mental Health Diversion Group to better address those with mental illness in the criminal justice system. We believe the implementation of MAP will have a positive impact on client outcomes, court efficiency, resource conservation and public safety.

Special Thanks to the Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation for their generous two-year grant making MAP a reality.

(March 8, 2011)