John Jay Launches Partnership to Deliver On-Demand Mental Health Services at Brooklyn Criminal Court

From Punishment to Public Health (P2PH) at John Jay College is partnering with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office (KCDA) and The Fortune Society to provide on-demand mental health and wraparound services to individuals at the Brooklyn Criminal Court.  Community Healthcare Network (CHN), a longtime partner to Fortune, will provide the mobile unit and key medical staffing.  The program is expected to launch in summer 2026 and focus on people released to the community following arraignment

The P2PH team worked with KCDA to conduct a competitive solicitation process before selecting The Fortune Society and CHN to operate the program, and will continue supporting the initiative through technical assistance, evaluation, and stakeholder reporting. The Fortune Society will manage a team of peer navigators stationed inside the courthouse, while CHN will deploy a nearby mobile medical unit offering immediate care, treatment connections, and community referrals.

The Brooklyn Courthouse Mobile Medical Unit will include clinical staff operating from a fully-equipped mobile treatment unit coordinated with peer specialists trained to engage clients before they leave the courthouse. The multidisciplinary team will include psychiatric, nursing, case management, and peer support professionals and will provide rapid-response services from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., five days a week.

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This health unit will fill a vital need by meeting people leaving court with immediate behavioral health care, peer support, and referrals at one of the most critical moments. By placing clinicians, peer specialists, and case managers right outside the courthouse, we can help people connect to treatment and support before they fall through the cracks, return to crisis, or cycle back into the justice system. This initiative is practical, humane, and rooted in public safety because it addresses the challenges that bring many people into court. I thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her support in funding this important initiative, and The Fortune Society and Community Healthcare Network for partnering with us to serve people in need.” 

“The Fortune Society is proud to partner with John Jay College, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and Community Healthcare Network on this groundbreaking program to bring behavioral health services directly to people at a critical moment of transition. Too often, individuals leaving court face urgent mental health and social service needs without immediate support or clear pathways to care. By embedding peer navigators in the courthouse and connecting people to on-demand services through the mobile behavioral health van, this program will help bridge that gap with compassion, dignity, and practical support.”  Rob DeLeon, Interim President and CEO.  

Robert M. Hayes, president of the Community Healthcare Network, said: “Community Healthcare Network’s mission is to deliver as much care as possible to the city’s most vulnerable, wherever they are and for whatever they need. That is why we are proud to be part of this innovative health care delivery initiative.”