Forensic Behavioral Health Case Management
At Ibis Healthcare, we believe in early intervention and second chances. Our forensic behavioral health services connect individuals with serious mental illness to treatment. By partnering with the courts, public defenders, and behavioral health experts throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County, we help people restore their lives, reduce recidivism, and rejoin their communities with dignity and hope.
Our Tampa forensic mental health programs recognize that behind every legal charge is a person with inherent worth, potential, and the capacity for positive change when provided with appropriate support and evidence-based treatment.
Hope, Recovery, and Second Chances
"My dark days made me stronger. Or maybe I was already strong and they made me prove it." This powerful statement from a program graduate reflects the resilience and potential we see in every individual who engages with our forensic mental health services.
Mental Health Court Liaison Program
Partnership with Hillsborough County Courts
In partnership with the 13th District Court of Hillsborough County, our mental health court liaison program provides specialized expertise to support judges, attorneys, and court staff in making informed decisions about treatment alternatives for defendants with mental illness.
Court Partnership Benefits:
- Reduces inappropriate incarceration of individuals with mental illness
- Provides judges with expert clinical recommendations
- Connects defendants to appropriate levels of mental health care
- Supports successful community integration and reduced recidivism
Referral and Intake Process
Referral Sources:
- Court Administration staff and judicial officers
- Public Defender's Office attorneys and investigators
- State Attorney's Office prosecutors and victim advocates
- Probation officers and court case managers
The final decision is by the Judge, who must court-order treatment.
Client Engagement Process:
- Initial clinical screening and risk assessment by our team
- Comprehensive mental health evaluation
- Develop treatment recommendations
- Client signs contract with agreed-upon treatment goals
- Regular progress monitoring and court reporting
Clinical Assessment and Evaluation Services
Evidence-Based Assessment Tools
Our forensic mental health assessments utilize standardized, validated instruments to provide courts with reliable, objective information:
Level of Service Case Management Inventory:
- Comprehensive risk and need assessment
- Identification of criminogenic factors
- Treatment and supervision recommendations
- Ongoing progress monitoring capabilities
Additional Assessment Components:
- Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation
- Substance abuse assessment and treatment planning
- Cognitive and intellectual functioning evaluation
- Risk assessment for violence and recidivism
- Treatment motivation and readiness assessment
Court Reports and Documentation
Our clinical team provides detailed, professional reports to the court system:
- Comprehensive evaluation summaries
- Treatment recommendations and referrals
- Progress reports and status updates
- Risk assessment and public safety considerations
- Medication compliance and psychiatric stability reports
Treatment and Case Management
Service Coordination:
- We provide on-site behavioral health treatment or connect with appropriate providers in the community
- We provide and/or link to Mental Health Pre-Trial Intervention (MHPTI) programs
- Coordination with substance abuse treatment providers, when necessary
- Domestic violence treatment, GED and/or parenting classes are available
- Housing assistance and residential placement support
- Benefits application assistance and financial planning
Ongoing Support Services:
- Regular case management and treatment monitoring
- Crisis intervention and emergency response planning
- Medication management and psychiatric follow-up
- Family support and relationship counseling
- Vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance
Forensic Impact Teams and Specialized Programs
Residential Treatment Program
Court-Ordered Competency Restoration and Jail Diversion
Our residential treatment program serves individuals found incompetent to stand trial on felony charges, providing intensive therapeutic intervention designed to restore competency while promoting long-term mental health recovery and community integration.
Program Components:
- Duration: 4-6 months of intensive, evidence-based treatment
- Competency Restoration Curriculum: Structured educational groups focusing on legal concepts, courtroom procedures, and defendant rights and responsibilities
- Individual Psychotherapy: Trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral therapy addressing underlying mental health conditions
- Psychiatric Services: Comprehensive medication management and psychiatric monitoring
- Life Skills Training: Independent living skills, social skills, and community preparation
- Family Involvement: Family therapy, education, and support services
Hillsborough Forensic Impact Team
Comprehensive Community-Based Services
This intensive program addresses the complex needs of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who have justice system involvement, providing both outpatient and inpatient care coordination.
Target Population:
- Adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders
- Individuals with repeated justice system involvement
- People at high risk for psychiatric hospitalization or incarceration
- Those transitioning from jail, prison, or residential treatment
Services:
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Integrated treatment for mental health and substance use disorders
- Intensive Case Management: High-frequency contact and comprehensive service coordination
- Housing Support: Emergency housing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing assistance
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Job training, placement, and supported employment services
- Legal System Coordination: Communication with probation officers, attorneys, and court personnel
Forensic Intensive Case Management
Community Stabilization and Reentry Support
Our forensic intensive case management program is specifically designed to stabilize community living, ensure treatment compliance, and reduce the risk of repeat offenses for individuals transitioning from incarceration or court involvement.
Program Focus Areas:
- Housing Stabilization: Securing and maintaining appropriate housing in the community
- Treatment Compliance: Ensuring consistent engagement with mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Crisis Prevention: Developing and implementing comprehensive crisis prevention strategies
- Community Integration: Building healthy social connections and support networks
- Legal Compliance: Supporting adherence to probation requirements and court orders
Evidence-Based Interventions and Treatment Modalities
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions
Our forensic mental health programs utilize proven cognitive-behavioral techniques specifically adapted for justice-involved populations:
- Cognitive Restructuring: Identifying and changing criminal thinking patterns and cognitive distortions that contribute to illegal behavior.
- Problem-Solving Skills Training: Teaching systematic approaches to identifying problems, generating solutions, and implementing effective strategies.
- Anger Management and Emotional Regulation: Developing healthy ways to manage intense emotions and reduce impulsive, harmful behaviors.
- Social Skills Training: Building appropriate interpersonal skills and healthy relationship patterns.
Trauma-Informed Care
Recognizing that individuals involved in the justice system have experienced trauma at significantly higher rates than the general population, our Tampa forensic behavioral health services incorporate trauma-informed principles throughout all program components.
Motivational Enhancement Techniques
Our team employs motivational interviewing techniques to help participants identify their own reasons for pursuing treatment and community success, exploring ambivalence about change and strengthening motivation and commitment to treatment.
Measuring Success: Outcomes and Impact
Recidivism Reduction
Our Tampa forensic behavioral health programs have demonstrated significant success in reducing repeat offenses and improving community integration outcomes for program participants.
Outcome Measures:
- Reduced arrests and criminal justice involvement
- Decreased psychiatric hospitalizations and crisis interventions
- Improved housing stability and community tenure
- Increased treatment engagement and medication compliance
- Enhanced family relationships and social support networks
Community Safety and Public Health
By addressing underlying mental health conditions that contribute to criminal behavior, our forensic services enhance public safety while supporting individual recovery and community reintegration.
Getting Connected with Forensic Services
Whether you're an individual ready to engage in recovery, a family member advocating appropriate treatment, or a legal professional seeking expert consultation, our Tampa forensic behavioral health team is here to help.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 813-239-8570
Professional Consultations: Available for attorneys, court personnel, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Speaking Engagements: Our team is available to present on forensic mental health topics for professional organizations, community groups, and educational institutions. Please contact our Communications Department at speaker@Ibishc.org
Our forensic behavioral health team works actively to reduce stigma associated with both mental illness and justice involvement, helping community members understand that mental illness is a treatable medical condition and that recovery and positive change are possible with appropriate support and intervention
Sigan trabajando con de es manera desde la recepción hasta los doctores son muy profesionales me sentí en casa jamás fui atendido de tal manera mi doctora es única es muy especial y agradable además habla mi idioma.
&nbnsp;
Dr. Kathryn Syed, cares and I appreciate her and LLasmine as well as staffs friendly greetings attention to my son with TBI, & my chattiness. It's always a family friendly environment. I feel as I'm seeing a very helpful friend.