About Us
Bridges of Colorado, established by SB 18-251, places Court Liaisons across Colorado's 22 judicial districts to serve defendants (referred to as participants) in the criminal justice system who have significant mental health needs. Due to the high success of the program, Bridges was legislatively established as an independent state office within the Judicial Branch in April of 2023. See the Bridges of Colorado Act 2023 legislation.
Bridges Court Liaisons are appointed by the court and facilitate collaboration between the criminal justice and mental health systems by partnering with providers, courts, and often families to provide wraparound care for participants. Liaisons provide person-centered care, working with participants to identify needs and address barriers, such as mental health, disabilities, housing, or transportation.
Because liaisons work with participants both in and out of custody, they are integral to outpatient planning when a participant is in custody and support engagement into identified services once a participant is released. Advocating for the best behavioral health interests of the participant, Court Liaisons keep judges and attorneys informed of participant needs and barriers, available services, and progress with engagement into services through regular reports to the court and attendance at hearings.
Individuals with high acuity mental health needs are ten times more likely to be jailed and nationally there are three times more individuals with serious mental illness in jails or prisons than in hospitals. Bridges of Colorado has been identified nationwide as a promising practice that focuses on the whole person. It is intentionally designed to address disparities often experienced by this population in the criminal justice system. Court Liaisons advocate for each participant’s inherent worth and dignity by centering their lived experiences and voice to ensure their behavioral health best interests. At its very core, Bridges is person-centered advocacy rooted in solution-focused, collaborative practices intended to promote positive outcomes for participants.
The Need
The majority of Coloradans with severe mental illness do not receive services, with many receiving services only through entering the justice system. Individuals with serious mental illness are twice as likely to be arrested again within a year of leaving prison.
The Vision
All individuals within the criminal justice system are treated fairly and humanely, regardless of their behavioral health history or mental state.
The Mission
To promote positive outcomes for Coloradans living with mental health conditions who encounter criminal justice involvement by fostering collaboration between both systems.
Our Values
We approach our work grounded in the following values:
- Participant-Centered
- Solutions-Focused
- Collaborative
How We Live Our Vision, Mission, and Values:
We connect to resources. We amplify voices. We shed light on situations.
We inform decision-making. We offer our support. We speak up.
We provide education. We embrace equity.
Our JEDI Vision
We are devoted to advancing equity of all intersectional identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, mental or physical ability, economic, marital, or family status, justice system involvement, and geographic location. This is our commitment to our Participants, partners and collaborators, each other, and all Colorado residents. It is who we are at our core.