DENVER — The Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) has hired its first chief of mental health services, the department announced Friday morning.
On Jan. 4, Dr. Nikki J. Johnson, Psy.D., CAS officially joined the DSD.
Most recently, Johnson served as the director of mental health at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office's Detention Facility. There, she provided clinical oversight, supervision, and leadership in the delivery of all behavioral and mental health services in the jail, according to the DSD.
At the time same, she served as vice president of correctional psychology associates.
Johnson has worked in jails and prisons — with both juveniles and adults — for more than 15 years. For seven years, she worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections in a maximum-security prison setting, DSD said. During that time, she also worked as a professional board member on the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins said she's a welcome addition to DSD's leadership team.
“With her extensive experience with behavioral health in jails and prisons, she brings a wealth of knowledge that will help us in our quest to foster continued improvement in the services we provide for those in our custody," Diggins said.