1. Catalyst for My Journey of Recovery
“Law Enforcement”
Catalyst for My Journey of Recovery
Bill Carruthers
Certified Peer Specialist
Gateway Behavioral Health Services
Savannah, Georgia
CIT International Conference
Hartford, CT
October 14 – 16, 2013

2. Born into Challenging Circumstances
 Birth
 Abandoned
 Economic
 Poverty

3. First Encounter with Law Enforcement
 Family
 Drug Dealers
 Ladies of the Night
 Police Encounter
 Treatment
 Result

4. First Incarceration  Treatment  Social Services  Result
 Police Encounter
 Treatment
 Result
 Court System
 Release
 Social Services
 Medical Services

5. Repeat Incarcerations & Hospitalizations
 Hustling for Survival
 Homelessness
 Addictions

6. 40 Years of Falling Through System Gaps
 Law Enforcement
 Courts
 Mental Health
 Social Service

7. Circle of Support – Closing Gaps
 Law Enforcement
 Savannah/Chatham Metro Police Dept.
 Savannah Impact Program
 CIT Trained Officers
 Courts
 Mental Health Court Program

8. Circle of Support – Closing Gaps (continued)
 Mental Health Services
 Intensive Case Management Programs
 ODR (Opening Doors to Recovery Project)
 Recovery Place
 Savannah Counseling Services
 Union Mission
 Advocacy Groups
 Alcoholics Anonymous
 GA Health Consumer Network
 Narcotics Anonymous
 National Alliance on Mental Illness
 Religious Organizations
 Mustard Seed Faith Church

9. GBI - GA Crime Information Center (GCIC)
Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC)
Maintains computerized criminal history
database
Provides Law Enforcement 24/7 electronic
access to criminal history information
Entry of Participants
by Navigation Specialists
Participant’s consent required
ODR Response Returned in Addition to Other CJIS Responses
Inquiry by
Law Enforcement
ODR Database
Hit Received
Notification
to Navigation Specialists
Types of Inquires
Wanted / Missing Person
Drivers License
Criminal History
Sex Offender
Protection Order
Georgia’s CJIS Network
Direct access to over 32 computerized databases
Has > 17,000 users operating over 10,000 devices
Handles more than 30 million messages per month in support of Georgia's criminal justice agencies.
CJIS Network
Criminal Justice Information System Network, Managed by GBI

10. Path to Recovery and Independence
 CIT Trained Law Enforcement Officers
 Community Based Case Management
 Real-Time Electronic Communication
 Peer Support Groups & Services

11. Closing Gaps Made My Recovery Possible

12. Bill Carruthers: Giving Back by Helping Others
 Certified Peer Specialist
 Certified Addiction Recovery
 Empowerment Specialist (C.A.R.E.S.)
 CIT Certified
 Peer Program Director
Savannah Counseling Service
 NAMI Peer Mentor
 Local Advisory Committee (LAC)
 Jail Diversion Trauma Recovery Program
 Former ODR Peer Navigator

13. Thank You!