Lecture to feature Mental Health Professional and Former Client

What: Erin Smith of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) will be speak at a Common Hour event on “Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System.” Smith, a licensed professional, and a former client, who was a convicted criminal with a diagnosed mental illness who is no longer incarcerated. Smith will give an overview of mental health in the state’s criminal justice system, and her client will discuss his experience as someone who committed a crime while suffering from a mental illness. The event, sponsored by the Psychology Department and Neuroscience and Human Rights Programs, is free and open to the Trinity community. There will be time for discussion of the issues and questions.  A light lunch will be provided for pre-registered participants only. To reserve a spot, please email: common-hour@trincoll.edu.

When: Thursday, October 29 at 12:15 p.m.

Where: Washington Room in Mather Hall on the Trinity campus
300 Summit Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106

Background: Mental health problems are common in the criminal justice system, and a serious mental illness is present at some point in more than 15 percent of the people who are imprisoned. Unfortunately, mental health needs are often not adequately addressed, resulting in untreated, worsening, and recurring bouts of mental illness.

The mission of DMHAS is to improve the quality of life of the people of Connecticut by providing an integrated network of comprehensive, effective, and efficient mental health and addiction services that foster self-sufficiency, dignity and respect.

To that end, the agency promotes and administers comprehensive, recovery-oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment throughout Connecticut. 

Although the department's prevention services serve all Connecticut citizens, its mandate is to serve adults (over 18 years of age) with psychiatric or substance use disorders, or both, who lack the financial means to obtain such services on their own.  DMHAS also provides collaborative programs for individuals with special needs, such as persons with HIV/AIDS infection, people in the criminal justice system, those with problem gambling disorders, substance abusing pregnant women, persons with traumatic brain injury or hearing impairment, those with co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness, and special populations transitioning out of the state Department of Children and Families.

This event is free and open to the Trinity community.  A light lunch will be provided for pre-registered participants only. To reserve a spot, please email: common-hour@trincoll.edu.

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