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A new advisory committee formed by the state Supreme Court focuses on mental health issues facing those who are dealing with the criminal justice system.

The formation of the Mental Health Advisory Committee was announced Tuesday by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, and will include representatives from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

The committee will also comprise health-care providers, mental health advocacy groups, the Department of Human Services, local law enforcement, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Public Defender, said Judge Glenn A. Grant, acting administrative director of the New Jersey Courts, in the announcement Tuesday.

The committee will begin meeting this month. It is tasked with taking a systemwide look at issues of mental health in the criminal justice system, and how the system handles those individuals, said Grant, who is listed as a member of the new committee. It also will look for ways to improve access to mental health services, according to the announcement.

Essex County Assignment Judge Sallyanne Floria and Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson will serve as co-chairwomen of the committee.

Others who will be serving on the Mental Health Advisory Committee that come from various fields include: Nora Barrett, associate professor of the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers School of Health Professions; attorney Thomas Belsky, deputy public defender; state Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., D-Burlington; and attorney John Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties.

The full committee roster was released Tuesday.

A similar program dealing with another sensitive issue began last month. State Superior Court judges were mandated to undergo a daylong training program to better handle sexual assault and other sensitive cases. The next daylong training conference, this time for municipal judges, is scheduled for Dec. 6.