Jail Diversion Project

Lancaster County one of seventeen counties nationwide to receive a three year federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to administer a mental health jail diversion program within the county.

The Goal

The goal of the Lancaster County Mental Health Jail Diversion Project is to divert persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder, who are in the Lancaster County Jail for nonviolent, misdemeanor crimes or who have had multiple law enforcement contacts in the community. A combination of pre- and post-booking diversion points are used to discourage system perception that incarceration is required before needed treatment can be accessed.

Project Goals

Incarcerating persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder is a growing community problem. Jails and prisons are not designed to be mental health / substance abuse treatment facilities. The Lancaster County Mental Health Jail Diversion Project seeks to perform three key functions:

1. Identify persons appropriate for jail diversion.
2. Engage these persons in treatment services/wellness programs available in Lancaster County.
3. Maintain their participation in these needed services.

Benefits

What benefits does mental health jail diversion for persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder have for Lancaster County:

1. Stops the "revolving door" in the criminal justice system for persons who are successfully diverted.
2. Allows persons to become engaged and maintained in needed treatment services.
3. Assures the civil rights of persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
4. Improves safety and the quality of life for all Lancaster County residents.
5. Allows law enforcement additional time to investigate more severe crimes.
6. Provides for appropriate usage of beds in the Lancaster County Jail, instead of incarcerating persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
7. Tax dollars being invested in solutions.
8. This federal grant brings Nebraska federal tax dollars back to Nebraska to help its residents.

Costs

What are the costs of not implementing mental health jail diversion in Lancaster County:

1. Our residents most in need of mental health/substance abuse treatment services will not receive it or its lasting benefits.
2. Taxpayer money will be spent on incarcerating persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder, instead of providing treatment for them.
3. Bed space for appropriate placements at the Lancaster County Jail, Lancaster County Crisis Center and BryanLGH Medical Center West will remain limited.
4. Law enforcement will spend increased hours providing "cruiser therapy" while waiting for bed space to become available.
5. Increases in crime will occur among persons with a serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
6. Our county government's liability increases with continual jail overcrowding.
7. Our community faces potential penalities for incarcerating persons with serious mental illness.

Partners

Partners in the Lancaster County Mental Health Jail Diversion Project are the Community Mental Health Center of Lancaster County, the Lancaster County Department of Corrections, the State Public Policy Group and mental health / substance abuse service providers in Lancaster County. Supported by the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.

Community Mental Health Center
Dean B. Settle, Executive Director, (402)411-6603
Travis Parker, Project Director, (402)411-6610

Corrections
Michael Thurber, Corrections Director, (402)441-7530

State Public Policy Group
Jim Addy, Research Manager
Arlinda McKeen, Vice President for Programs & Services
(402)770-9760

Lancaster County Commissioners:
Bernie Heier ~ Larry Hudkins ~ Deb Schorr
Ray Stevens ~ Bob Workman
(402)441-7447