About
What We Do
Words to Deeds: Changing the Paradigm for Criminal Justice and Mental Health is a statewide collaborative and California’s premier forum for decriminalizing mental illness and preventing people with behavioral health needs from becoming involved with the criminal justice system.
From the first convening in 2003, Words to Deeds has evolved into a standard best practice for creating opportunities among individuals and systems from various professional backgrounds to foster collaborative problem-solving and empower leaders from state and local government, the courts, criminal justice, corrections, and behavioral health organizations. Since its inception, key decision-makers have convened to develop strategies for alternatives to incarceration, treatment, and programming for individuals in law enforcement custody and transitioning out of custody into the community. Words to Deeds convenings incubate innovative approaches and ideas, promote best-practices, and advance public policy to strengthen communities and advance justice and health equity across California.
Over the years, Words to Deeds has been supported by a wide array of government, philanthropic, and private sector partners. In partnership with the Mental Health Services Oversight Commission and the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, W2D 2024 – Establishing Metrics to Measure Success: Diversion, Data, and Accountability focused on establishing metrics and shaping a shared vision that will unite key partners from government, behavioral health, educational, and advocacy organizations to measure success in decriminalizing mental illness, diversion, and reentry.
Join us in Los Angeles, September 25-26, 2025, for the 2025 Word to Deeds convening!
Our Mission
The leaders in criminal justice and behavioral health participating in this effort strive to end the criminalization of individuals with mental illness by supporting proven strategies that promote early intervention, access to effective treatments, a planned reentry, and the preservation of public safety.
Our Vision
A true shift in the paradigm between criminal justice and behavioral health will embody an effective jail diversion system that fosters a successful and ongoing exchange of information among courts, criminal justice agencies, mental health professions, governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations, to achieve a substantial positive change in the way individuals with mental illness are treated within our communities.
Leadership Group
The Words to Deeds Leadership Group joins representatives from state and local government agencies, nonprofit and advocacy organizations to reduce the involvement of and improve outcomes for people with behavioral health issues involved with the criminal justice system, focusing on successful reintegration into their communities.
Membership is voluntary and members are as active as their professional schedules allow, attending Group meetings and Words to Deeds events. Conference calls/video meetings typically occur every other month, becoming more frequent for planning purposes as event deadlines approach.