Forensic Services
Recognizing the high incidence of mental illness within both the adult and juvenile offender populations, the Mental Health Center has established a Forensic Services Unit to provide provides clinical services to individuals involved in the legal system and mental health consultation to the county's criminal justice agencies. The unit is divided into a Corrections Team and a Sexual Abuse Team. Both teams work closely with the District Attorney’s office, Court Services, Community Corrections, SRS, and Sunflower House Child Advocacy Center.
The Corrections Team provides court-ordered Psychological Evaluations, Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations, and other clinical assessments and services for courts. Clinicians and case managers assist with the mental health needs of individuals at the Adult Detention Center, Juvenile Detention Center, Community Corrections Residential Center, and Juvenile Field Services. In addition to assessments, team members provide crisis intervention, re-entry planning, and conduct brief therapy for residents of these facilities. Clinical staff also provides training and consultation to corrections facility staff.
The Sexual Abuse team provides treatment for children and adolescents who have been sexually abused. Treatment is specific to the needs of the victim and may include individual therapy, play therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. Our goal is to heal the emotional trauma of individuals affected by child sexual abuse and to facilitate change in those who perpetrate the trauma.
Services for juvenile and adult sex offenders include Sex Offender Evaluations for Johnson County Court and Probation to determine treatment needs and risk factors and specialized treatment including group, individual, and family therapy to address the offense and related issues. The clinicians who treat sex offenders are Clinical Members of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
Johnson County Mental Health Center is also a contributing partner with other local agencies in the Johnson County Mental Health Criminal Justice Intercept Project which seeks to intervene at the earliest point possible in providing mental health services for those in the criminal justice system.