Breaking the Cycle of Mental Illness and Incarceration
Most mentally-ill repeat-offenders are unable to shift successfully from incarceration to independent community living. Volunteers of America’s Queens Forensic Linkage Transition Program addresses this issue by providing comprehensive one-on-one support for individuals trapped in the cycle of repeat imprisonment and hospitalization.

The Forensic Link Program serves 750 adult men and women living in Queens who have been arrested, detained by the police or spent time in jail, and also live with serious mental illnesses.

Caring professionals begin working with eligible inmates before their discharge and continue providing support, guidance and assistance for at least two years following their release. The program’s primary objective is to ensure that mentally-ill prisoners make the transition from confinement to community living as easily as possible, to reduce and hopefully eliminate the need for hospitalization or re-incarceration.

A Link to a New Life
As its name implies, the Forensic Linkage Program serves as the bridge between the prison system and community services for mentally-ill convicts. The program staff engages inmates at Rikers Island and the Queens House of Detention to make initial assessments and begin planning personalized strategies for independence. When possible, our staff coordinates appropriate alternatives to jail sentences within the Queens Criminal and Supreme courts. The Volunteers of America staff also provides entitlement assistance and helps parolees access the services they need to become crime-free members of the community, including substance abuse, mental health and HIV/AIDS support programs.