Ruth O’Sullivan

Ruth O’Sullivan is the Project/Clinical Director of Brooklyn Mental Health Court. In this capacity she leads a staff dedicated to creating a meaningful response to the problems posed by defendants with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Addressing both the treatment  needs of defendants with mental illness and the public safety concerns of the community, the Mental Health Court uses the authority of the court to link defendants with serious and persistent mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) who would ordinarily be jail- or prison-bound to long-term treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Ruth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been working with this very specific population since 2001. Since taking over as Project Director of BMHC the court has expanded to also work with persons diagnosed with Neurodevelopmental disorders. She has a Master’s Degree in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Glasgow and a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and 2 children and she teaches boxing in her spare time.