Neuropsychiatry

The rate of Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is four to six times higher in jail than in the general population, and almost half of people with SMI and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders have had criminal justice contact. In fact, 44% of those in jail and 37% of those in prison are living with SMI.

Mental Health Diversion Programs are alternatives to conventional criminal justice case processing and incarceration and seek to connect people to the appropriate treatment and support services outside of the criminal justice system. Diversion can occur at the pre-arrest, pre-charge or post-charge/pre-conviction stage. MHD interventions and resources can include:

• Jail and court based treatment
• Community based treatment
• Treatment housing
• Community outreach and services
• Workforce development

Our Mental Health Diversion Program is working with organizations to identify and divert people living with SMI, away from the criminal justice system and toward community-based mental health services by supporting the creation of new systems as well as projects to expand the capacity of existing services.