The L.A. County Board of Supervisors wants to add 1,000 treatment beds to help divert people living with mental illness out of jail.
The supervisors agreed Tuesday to direct the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) to come up with a “ramp-up plan” in three months that would include a timeline, staffing needs and more. The motion by Supervisor Holly Mitchell also directs the county CEO to come up with funding sources for the additional 1,000 beds so that they would be in service by 2025.
“As the County continues to embrace a ‘Care First’ vision, it is essential that we properly address the mental health needs of those in our jails rather than expose them to turbulent and violent environments that exacerbate their conditions,” the motion reads.
By many measures, the Office of Diversion and Reentry has seen success in getting people living with serious mental illness or substance use issues out of the jail system and into care.
Some success, but needs remain high
According to the motion, as of February 2023, roughly 9,500 people have been released from jail and into the supervision and care of ODR since the office was created in 2015. A 2019 RAND study found that 74% of survey respondents enrolled in the program had stable housing after 12 months and 86% had no new felony convictions.
While ODR has seen success in the seven years it’s been around, there is still a dire need to divert people living with mental illness out of the county’s jail system.
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