C.R.S.
Section 13-95-106
Behavioral health court liaisons
- duties and responsibilities
(1)
A court liaison hired or contracted pursuant to this article 95 has the following duties and responsibilities:(a)
Conducting intake, screening, and assessment, with participants, for behavioral health history and needs and social determinants of health needs;(b)
Determining appropriate referral and treatment options when necessary and making direct connections to, and supporting engagement with, services for participants, including other criminal or juvenile justice diversion programs for individuals with behavioral health challenges, which may include alternatives to competency services, prosecution, and custody or confinement; if a participant is convicted, alternatives to sentences to confinement while promoting public safety; and other diversion-oriented programs, including problem-solving courts, competency dockets, treatment, sober or supportive housing, and peer mentor programs;(c)
Using the competency information from the statewide court data system, as updated pursuant to section 13-3-101 (17), to identify individuals who have not been appointed a court liaison but for whom an appointment to the bridges program may be beneficial. If a court liaison or the bridges program identifies an individual for whom services may be appropriate, the court liaison may recommend to the judicial officer, defense attorney, and district attorney working on the case that a court liaison be appointed for the individual.(d)
Addressing system gaps and barriers and promoting positive outcomes for participants in cases to which the liaison is assigned;(e)
Keeping judges; district attorneys or county attorneys, as applicable; and defense attorneys informed about available community-based behavioral health services for the participant in a case, and, if applicable, case planning for possible release from custody for a participant who has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation or receive competency restoration services pursuant to article 8.5 of title 16 and article 2.5 of title 19.(f)
Facilitating communication and collaboration between behavioral health systems and criminal justice entities;(g)
Providing consultation and training to criminal and juvenile justice personnel regarding behavioral health and community treatment options and bridges program best practices; and(h)
Coordinating with service providers, including the office within a state department responsible for assisting civil and forensic mental health patients and jail-based behavioral health providers, to ensure continuity of care and service delivery in a manner that avoids duplication and bifurcation of services.(2)
If a court appoints a court liaison for a person, the statewide court data system must include a record of the appointment and actions related to the appointment on the person’s case records.(3)
A court liaison appointed in a case shall act as a resource for the court and the parties to the case. A court liaison shall not be an independent party in a case or serve in a role intended to monitor compliance with a court order by a party or other person associated with a case.(4)
A court liaison may continue to serve a participant for up to ninety days after final disposition of the case for which the liaison was appointed.
Source:
Section 13-95-106 — Behavioral health court liaisons - duties and responsibilities, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-13.pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
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