Community-Based Partnerships: Collaboration and Organizational Partnerships in Criminal Justice

This research examined a collaborative communitypractitioner partnership involving many justice and non-justice system agencies in Tarrant County, Texas. The study examined the challenges of a community-based partnership for solving jail overcrowding issues and the overincarceration of mentally ill individuals. This research involved working with the behavioral and mental health providers, substance abuse services providers, health services providers, police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, sheriff’s office, county administration, court administration, jail staff, reentry services providers and organizations, victim services organizations, and so many more. In this paper the focus is on the importance of reducing conflict between entities that see themselves as in competition (removing adversarial components where possible), increasing communication between agencies and organizations, creating accountability for action, and managing the political terrain. We find that these elements combine to produce successful outcomes for communities and families as we focus on the justice system-involved population, their families, and their communities