FY 2025 Budget Invests $33 Million to Provide Necessary Supports to Individuals with a Mental Illness History, Lack of Engagement in Treatment

Budget Adds 200 Beds at State-Operated Psychiatric Facilities Including 25 Forensic Beds and 75 Transition-to-Home Beds

Builds on Nation-Leading $1 Billion Plan to Transform New York’s Mental Health Care System

Governor Kathy Hochul on April 24th, announced an investment of more than $33 million in the State’s FY 2025 Enacted Budget to expand mental health services for individuals who are living with mental illness and involved in the criminal justice system. During a visit to the Midtown Community Justice Center in Manhattan, the Governor discussed how this funding will help ensure those individuals with a history of mental health treatment, lack of engagement in treatment, or other mental health concerns can connect with necessary services and supports, and experience better outcomes.

“The FY 2025 Budget doubles down on New York’s commitment to public safety by supporting people with mental illness who are also in the criminal justice system,” Governor Hochul said. “Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe as they walk down the street, use the transit systems and go about their daily lives. By addressing mental health, New York continues to help people find stability and peace while making entire communities safer.”

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Governor Hochul visited the Justice Center – part of the Center for Justice Innovation and the Manhattan Misdemeanor Mental Health Court – to gain further insight into the mental health court system and to view holding spaces that will be transitioned into new on-site supportive services for individuals experiencing severe mental illness. The Midtown Community Justice Center works closely with the Manhattan Misdemeanor Mental Health Court to connect individuals with serious mental health needs to treatment, housing, and other supports, often as an alternative to traditional prosecution for low-level offenses.

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “All too often, individuals living with mental illness and who have been involved with the criminal justice system do not receive the necessary supports to help them onto the path to recovery. The funding included in this budget will help build out these supports and provide critical treatment services to help these individuals successfully recover in the communities where they live. Governor Hochul’s continued focus on expanding access to mental health for all New Yorkers is laying the foundation for improved outcomes and transformational change throughout our state.”

Chief Judge Hon. Rowan D. Wilson said, “I am extraordinarily grateful for Governor Hochul’s commitment to improving the mental health of struggling New Yorkers, and her collaborative efforts with the Unified Court System to achieve that end. Her choice to hold on April 24th’s announcement at the Midtown Community Justice Center is more than symbolic – it reaffirms our partnership to address these challenging issues effectively and humanely.”

Executive Director of the Center for Court Innovation Courtney Bryan said, “We are so grateful to Governor Hochul for this investment to expand mental health services for New York’s youth and individuals with serious mental illness. The Center for Justice Innovation will continue to collaborate with our partners in the New York Unified Court System and in communities to treat every person with care, kindness, and dignity to reduce the use of incarceration, improve individual healing, and make communities safer.”

The $33 million investment included in the enacted FY 2025 State Budget will help ensure that individuals involved in the criminal justice system, who have a history of mental health treatment, lack of engagement in treatment, or related concerns have access to a comprehensive continuum of mental health care and the support services necessary for recovery. This funding will also help these individuals to return to their own communities for care whenever possible.

This funding includes $8.2 million to place mental health navigators in courts to identify defendants with a history of mental health treatment, lack of engagement in treatment, or other mental health concerns. These specialists will then work with community partners, including local providers, to refer individuals to treatment and services. Many of these navigators will have lived experience and will be well-equipped to help others find the supports that can help them recover.

The budget also allocates $14.6 million to enhance and expand specialized Forensic Assertive Community Treatment teams, which will have lower caseloads and deliver intensive support to individuals with serious mental illness. This will allow the teams to maintain continuous engagement with these individuals and connect them with care and housing, ensure adherence to medication and treatment plans, and support life skill development.

Additionally, the budget invests $4.3 million into developing transitional housing for individuals referred through the court system. Another $2.8 million will provide housing and supports to individuals with mental illness experiencing homelessness or involved in the criminal justice system.

To support individuals placed in inpatient psychiatric treatment, the Budget includes funding for 200 new beds at state-operated psychiatric facilities. This includes funding for 25 forensic beds, which provide assessment and treatment for individuals involved with the criminal justice system; and three new 25-bed Transition-to-Home units, which serve those in need of specialized care, including individuals with a history of recurring criminal justice involvement and in need of psychiatric inpatient treatment.

The enacted Budget also includes $1 million to fund law enforcement and mental health coordination team and expands crisis intervention team training for police agencies and their partners, which will promote better outcomes when law enforcement responds to an individual with acute mental health needs.

This funding complements Governor Hochul’s landmark $1 billion mental health plan, which recognizes the links between chronic homelessness, substance use disorder, and severe mental health challenges, and prioritizes coordination of services to ensure no one falls through the cracks.