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The CMHS National GAINS Center Consumer Perspectives Exhibit, In Our Own Words: Our Experience with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System, was designed as a tool to educate people working in the mental health, substance abuse, and justice systems. The Consumer Perspectives Exhibit is a museum quality exhibit whose contributors include consumers and peer specialists involved in the development and implementation of jail diversion programs, participants in jail diversion programs, participants in drug courts, and other individuals with histories of justice involvement.

The contributions of men and women from around the country resulted in a multi-media exhibit of vignettes, photos, pastels, pencil drawings, poetry, collages, audio clips and film clips. Building on the concept of following an individual from initial police contact through arrest, arraignment, court, jail, prison, and the reentry process, the consumer participants added an important component - the inclusion of a focus on personal recovery and the current work of consumers to transform systems to better meet the needs of people with co-occurring disorders.

Viewers to the exhibit are provided with behind the scenes personal accounts detailing the emotionally complex struggles men and women with a mental illness and co-occurring disorders face when in contact with law enforcement officials and the justice system. The exhibit has colorful displays that emphasize that recovery and a return to fulfilling lives is possible. For the many people working in the justice system whose work only brings them into contact with people at very low points in their lives or who see people continually cycling through the system, the exhibit provides proof that recovery is possible for some of the people who come through their programs and facilities.

The Consumer Perspectives Exhibit collects artwork to display at venues around the country. If you have photos, pastels, pencil drawings, poetry, collages, audio clips or film clips that you wish to display or would like to have the Exhibit showcased at a venue, please contact the National GAINS Center.

	The CMHS National GAINS Center
	Gains@prainc.com    800.311.GAIN
Funded by the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration < Privacy Policy > For Alternative Access to Web Documents : Email gains@prainc.com USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.