The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has announced a $10.1 million Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation grant from the Orange County Health Care Agency to expand the study of the Orange County Young Adult Court (YAC). 

A collaborative court for first-time felony offenders between the ages of 18 and 25, YAC was created, in part, by Elizabeth Cauffman, UCI professor of psychological science, education and law. Participants who complete the program have their charges reduced to a misdemeanor or the complete dismissal of a felony charge. To date, YAC has graduated 17 young men, who have had their felonies removed from their records.

The public-private partnership involves developing a “youth action plan,” which lays out mandatory steps such as attending all court hearings, meeting with probation officers and case managers, getting drug and/or alcohol abuse treatment, and seeking mental health counseling along with employment and education advice and following through. The latest grant will extend the amount of time the program can track those who complete the program, and the funding will expand the program to include up to 300 first-time felony offenders, with half randomly assigned to participate in YAC and half randomly assigned to a control group. 

“My mantra is ‘science to the streets,’” Cauffman said, explaining that “if we want to see change in the criminal justice system, we need to use science to guide that.” 

“Through MHSA, the Orange County Health Care Agency is able to support important, innovative projects like YAC,” said Veronica Kelley, HCA’s mental health and recovery services chief. “This collaborative project helps our agencies leverage resources while informing treatment and best practices for behavioral health care, leading to improved outcomes in community health and wellness.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/imaginima)