Jail Diversion Updates

The need to expand Criminal Justice diversion and OUTREach Programs  



​From the CO Office of Behavioral Health

Alamosa LEAD Program Reduces Felonies, Recidivism

In her article, "Bringing LEAD to Alamosa," City Manager Heather Brooks describes how the City of Alamosa has brought this innovative pre-booking diversion program to the San Luis Valley through strong community partnerships.

Only a year and a half into implementing the LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program, and Alamosa County has seen a drop in jail numbers, felonies and recidivism. LEAD is funded through OBH and involves arresting officers exercising discretionary authority to divert individuals to a community-based harm-reduction intervention with a wide range of support services rather than charging them with a crime. 

​Read Brooks' article in this month's edition of Colorado Municipalities. In addition, OBH is pleased to announce the addition of Valerie Resendez to the team as our new OBH Diversion Program Manager. Learn more about the program on the OBH LEAD web page.

​As Seattle debates what to do about ‘prolific offenders,’ some say we already have the answer

​The mayor has her own proposals, but some advocates and city council members wonder why the city doesn’t simply expand its current diversion and outreach programs. 

LA & Mental Health Jail Diversion

LA D.A. Jackie Lacey calls jailing of people with mentally ill a 'moral question'-- CO Needs to Follow LA's Example & Allocate Millions for Mental Health Criminal Justice Diversion Programs 
In the meantime, Lacey said the working group agreed that training for all criminal justice officials -- including police officers, prosecutors and judges -- on how to handle people with mental illnesses and what resources are available should be at the "top of the list."

They also agreed that the county should expand the capacity of treatment programs for people in the justice system, do a detailed study on services needed, improve coordination between agencies, put policies in place at the district attorney's office and elsewhere on dealing with mental health issues and create "stablization centers" where people undergoing a mental health crisis could be brought instead of to overcrowded emergency rooms. 
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LA D.A. Jackie Lacey. Creative Commons
After Lacey's presentation, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas asked his colleagues to set aside $20 million for expanded mental health diversion programs. The proposal is slated to come before the board next week.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-jackie-lacey-diversion-20140715-story.html