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SPEAKER: THANK YOU. THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER AND SUPPORTER OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT COMMITTEE. IT CONTINUES TO BE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH SUCH A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF STAKEHOLDERS UNDER THE VERY ABLE LEADERSHIP AND CHAIRMANSHIP OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACKIE LACEY. ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE STRATEGIES TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, AS THE LARGEST PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES, REALIZES THAT IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF MENTALLY ILL CLIENTS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE MUST CONTINUE TO EMBRACE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY, HOLISTIC VISION OF DEFENSE REPRESENTATION THAT FOCUSES NOT ONLY ON THE ZEALOUS REPRESENTATION ON THE LEGAL CASE BUT WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH JUSTICE SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS EMPLOY BEST PRACTICE MODELS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES THAT BRING TROUBLED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THESE AFFLICTIONS INCLUDE MENTAL ILLNESS, CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOMELESSNESS AND ABUSE AND TRAUMA. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE PERVASIVE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT OUR CLIENTS OFTEN CONFRONT WITH APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AND SERVICES NOT ONLY DURING DEPENDENCY OF THE CASE IN THE COURTROOM BUT UPON THEIR RE-ENTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED AS LEGAL COUNSEL OF RECORD ON THE MAJORITY OF CASES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ADVOCATE FOR CLIENTS ON THESE ISSUES. AND WE HAVE BEEN A LONG-STANDING LEADER WORKING IN TANDEM WITH OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM PARTNERS IN ADVOCATING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRUG COURTS, THE WOMEN'S REENTRY COURT, THE VETERAN COURTS, AMONG OTHER MODELS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. FOR THESE REASONS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER MENTAL HEALTH LIAISON PROJECT PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REPRESENTS A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION AMONG THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS AND RESOURCE ATTORNEYS SPECIALIZING IN MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY BOTH EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WHO ARE EITHER EMBEDDED AT THE COUNTY JAIL OR WORKING AT A NEARBY LOCATION WOULD VISIT AND INTERACT MORE REGULARLY WITH OUR DETAINED CLIENTS HOUSED IN THE COUNTY JAIL MENTAL HEALTH WARDS. THEY WOULD ALSO CLOSELY COLLABORATE WITH DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL AT THE COUNTY JAIL, REVIEWING RECORDS RELATING TO CLIENTS' MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND COMMUNICATE RELEVANT INFORMATION IN REAL TIME TO ASSIGNED DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS REPRESENTING CLIENTS ON PENDING CASES IN COURTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THIS MODEL OF HOLISTIC LEGAL REPRESENTATION FACILITATES IMPROVED LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY AND CLIENT, INCLUDING THE COURT SYSTEM, AND PROMOTES EFFICIENCIES THAT WILL RESULT IN MORE TIMELY DIVERSION OF MENTALLY ILL CLIENTS OUT OF THE COUNTY SYSTEM AND THE RESOLUTION OF APPROPRIATE CASES. THIS MODEL ALSO FACILITATES MORE MEANINGFUL AND INFORMED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY AND THE FAMILY OF THE MENTALLY ILL CLIENT. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER MENTAL HEALTH LIAISON PROJECT PROPOSAL ALSO CONTEMPLATES PUBLIC DEFENDER PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS AND PARALEGALS COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS TO LINK OUR MENTALLY ILL CLIENTS IN THEIR TRANSITION FROM THE COURT SYSTEM TO AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF TREATMENT AND SERVICES UPON THEIR RELEASE IN AREAS THAT INCLUDE HOUSING, VETERANS SERVICES AND AFTER CARE. FINALLY, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FULLY SUPPORTS THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR TRAINING AND CROSS-TRAINING AMONG ALL JUSTICE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE SCIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE FEAR AND STIGMA OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ITS PUBLIC HEALTH AFFLICTION. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ALSO SUPPORTS REGULAR COLLABORATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES AND DISCIPLINES IN SEARCH OF BEST PRACTICE MODELS THAT PROMOTE WELL-BEING, DIVERSION AND OTHER POSITIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES FOR MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUING PARTICIPATION IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT GROUNDBREAKING EFFORT. THANK YOU, SUPERVISORS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JIM SMITH AND I'M THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF MONTERREY PARK. I REPRESENT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION ON THE COUNTYWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH TASKFORCE. AND TODAY I AM REPRESENTING THE TASKFORCE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING GROUP WHICH INCLUDES THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. ALL OF OUR AGENCIES ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND INTERACTION WITH PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CRISIS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING GROUP RECENTLY MET TO DISCUSS THE TRAINING NEEDS FOR OUR AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS AND IDENTIFY NEEDS. THE TRAINING COMPONENT DISCUSSION INCLUDED THE TYPE OF TRAINING CLASSES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, THE TRAINING THAT IS ALREADY ON GOING IN AGENCIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF PARTNERSHIPS, PRIMARILY WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. EXPERIENCES OF AGENCIES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WITH MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THE SERVICE DELIVERY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS TO AGENCIES VARYING IN SIZE FROM SMALL DEPARTMENTS TO VERY LARGE DEPARTMENTS. THE WORKING GROUP IS IN THE PROCESS OF FORMING AN AD HOC CURRICULUM COMMITTEE THAT WILL REPRESENT ALL OF US TO COLLABORATE ON TRAINING NEEDS, CURRICULUM AND COST. THEY WILL ALSO BE IDENTIFYING TRAINING PROVIDERS THROUGH RESOURCES WITHIN THE COUNTY AND WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE TO DELIVER THE TRAINING. THE GOAL OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO HAVE STANDARDIZED RECOMMENDED TRAINING THAT CAN BE DELIVERED TO ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. CURRENTLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CO-DEPLOYED TEAMS WHICH PARTNER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN. THIS MODEL IS USED IN MANY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SANTA MONICA, BURBANK, LONG BEACH, PASADENA AND ALHAMBRA POLICE DEPARTMENTS JUST TO NAME A FEW. THERE ARE ALSO REGIONAL TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SOUTH BAY AND SOUTHEAST AREAS OF THE COUNTY. IT IS THE GOAL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT TEAMS AND LOOK TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF CO-DEPLOYED TEAMS IN THE COUNTY. THE TRAINING AND CO-DEPLOYED TEAMS I SPOKE OF WILL ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT IN IMPROVING ITS RESPONSE AND INTERACTION WITH PERSONS IN CRISIS; HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO FACE A CAPACITY PROBLEM. THIS MEANS A LACK OF CRISIS CENTERS, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SOBERING CENTERS FOR PERSONS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE EAGER TO HELP PEOPLE. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AVAILABLE. THIS INCLUDES HAVING CRISIS CENTERS WHERE OFFICERS CAN COMPLETE THE INTAKE PROCESS AND BE BACK ON THE STREET IN 15 MINUTES RATHER THAN HOURS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SEEN IN SOME OF THE MODEL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACKIE LACEY FOR BRINGING TOGETHER THIS DIVERSE GROUP OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGENCIES. THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO FORM THE COUNTYWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH TASKFORCE. THE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND GOALS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. WILL IT TAKE YEARS OF EFFORT TO GET OUR SYSTEM WHERE IT SHOULD BE. WE HAVE SEEN THESE EFFORTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DUE TO SUSTAINED EFFORTS OVER 10 TO 12 YEARS OF PROGRAMS BEING IN PLACE. BECAUSE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY LACEY'S LEADERSHIP I BELIEVE THIS IS ACHIEVABLE FOR OUR COUNTY, AS WELL. I THANK THE BOARD IN ADVANCE FOR ITS SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
DR. ROBIN KAY: GOOD MORNING. DR. ROBIN KAY HERE FOR DR. MARVIN SOUTHARD FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH HAS RECEIVED AND REVIEWED THE GAINS REPORT ON JAIL DIVERSION FOR LOS ANGELES WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT MANY INITIATIVES EXIST WITHIN L.A. TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS. THE GAINS CONSULTANTS URGED LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO TAKE AND ADAPT AND EXPAND APPROACH, BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION YOUR BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED. D.M.H. HAS MOVED FORWARD TO CAPITALIZE UPON FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN SUPPORT THIS ADAPT AND EXPAND APPROACH. MORE SPECIFICALLY, SHOULD YOUR BOARD APPROVE ITEM 18 THIS MORNING, WE WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO EXPAND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS AND PSYCHIATRIC MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED AND MORE SPECIFICALLY WE WILL ADD TWO PSYCHIATRIC RESPONSE TEAMS AND NINE LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS TO THE EXISTING 30 LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING. WE WILL IMMEDIATELY INITIATE A SOLICITATION PROCESS THAT WILL ENABLE US TO CREATE THREE ADDITIONAL URGENT CARE CENTERS IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AND UP TO 35 CRISIS RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THESE PROGRAMS WILL BEGIN TO COME ONLINE IN THE MIDDLE OF 2015. INITIALLY WE ARE PROPOSING THAT TWO OF THESE URGENT CARE CENTERS MAY SERVE AS AN ENTRY POINT INTO MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AS HAVING SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AT THE POINT OF ARREST. A BOARD LETTER COVERING THE SECOND SET OF PROGRAMS TO BE FUNDED BY S.B.82 WILL COME TO YOU IN THE COMING MONTHS AND WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PROPOSED PROJECTS INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 14 DIVERSION OR JAIL IN REACH TEAMS THAT CAN SUPPLEMENT OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH COMPREHENSIVE, PRERELEASE PLANNING AND LINKAGE WITH SPECIALIZED COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BEGINNING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK WITH DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACKIE LACEY AND THE C.E.O. TO CONTINUE TO ANALYZE AND QUANTIFY THE EXPANSION OF ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AS PART OF THE JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE INVOLVED, AND WE THANK DISTRICT ATTORNEY LACEY FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND HER VISION.
WESLEY FORD: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WESLEY FORD AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM HAS CONDUCTED ANALYSIS OF OUR EXISTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS SUCH AS ADULT DRUG COURTS AND THE D.M.H. URGENT CARE CENTERS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE DIVERSION PROGRAM. OR POPULATIONS THAT WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. BASED UPON D.P.H. SAPC'S PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT, WE IDENTIFIED AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR RESIDENTIAL DETOX AND RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. WE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR SOBERING CENTERS WHICH WOULD ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DIVERT INTOXICATED OR HIGH ALERT INDIVIDUALS TO THESE CENTERS RATHER THAN TO JAILS, URGENT CARE CENTERS OR E.R.S. THE CLIENTS WOULD REMAIN FOR A MAXIMUM OF 23 HOURS TO ALLOW ASSESSMENT AND LINKAGE INTO SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES. AND I WOULD JUST ADD TO THIS THAT SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN DIEGO HAVE HAD SOBERING CENTERS FOR A WHILE WHICH HAVE PROVEN TO BE VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND ALSO HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN GETTING INDIVIDUALS INTO SERVICES AND HAVING GOOD OUTCOMES WITH THOSE SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY D.P.H. SAPC IS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A PILOT PROJECT THAT WILL AUGMENT THE SHERIFF'S EDUCATION-BASED INCARCERATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED DRUG EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO THE 3-N POPULATION. NONVIOLENT, NON-SERIOUS, AND NONSEXUAL OFFENDERS. AND A COMMUNITY-BASED DRUG TREATMENT BED PILOT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE ELIGIBLE 3-N FEMALE POPULATION TO COMPLETE THE LAST 90 DAYS OF THEIR SENTENCE IN A COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FACILITY. WE WILL BE COMING TO YOUR BOARD IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE TO RECEIVE APPROVAL AND TO IMPLEMENT THESE TWO PILOT PROJECTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT PRIOR TO THE A.C.A. AND THE RECENTLY APPROVED STATE PLAN AMENDMENT, THE ONLY MEDICAL BENEFIT FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT WERE PERINATAL AND METHADONE DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES. THE 18 TO 64-YEAR-OLD CRIMINAL JUSTICE POPULATION IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND HOSPITAL-BASED DETOX ALONG WITH THE SERVICES BEFORE. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE IS VERY LIMITED, STILL. AND, FINALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT D.P.H. AND SAPC IS COLLABORATING WITH THE STATE ON DEVELOPING THE 1115 D.M.C. WAIVER WHICH IS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AN ORGANIZED DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES. THE STATE HAS RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM C.M.S. TO INCLUDE A 90-DAY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES AND WAIVER WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE 16-BED I.M.D. EXCLUSION ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN A BARRIER TO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER MEDI-CAL. THE STATE ALSO INCLUDES RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE PROPOSED 1115 D.M.C. WAIVER. THE COUNTY, AS YOU MAY KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE WAIVER WILL BE AN OPT-IN OR OPT-OUT. COUNTIES WILL HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE. BUT IF THE COUNTY SHOULD OPT IN TO THE D.M.C. WAIVER, IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE DIVERSION POPULATION UNDER MEDI-CAL. THE STATE IS CURRENTLY PLANNING TO SUBMIT THE WAIVER TO C.M.S. BY THE END OF NOVEMBER. AND C.M.S. HAS 120 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE STATE'S PROPOSAL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ON THE PROGRESS OF THIS WAIVER AS IT WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SERVICES THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER DRUG MEDI-CAL. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK DISTRICT ATTORNEY LACEY FOR THE EFFORT SHE HAS PUT INTO BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER AND FOR FOCUSING ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE ABILITY TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM WITHIN THE JAIL POPULATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JACKIE LACEY: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD?
SUP. ANTONOVICH: THE LEADERSHIP WHERE WE ENGAGE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ESCALATE THESE TYPES OF CRISES THAT THEY ENCOUNTER INVOLVING THE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IS VERY POSITIVE AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT I KNOW THE FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY HELPED BRING ABOUT AND WHO IS NOW SERVING AS A COUNCILMAN IN THE CITY OF GLENDORA. BUT CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING DOES ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE STREET. AND THIS IS A BENEFIT NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO WOULD PERHAPS NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY TREATMENT THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE RECEIVE FROM THEIR COMMUNITY OR THEIR FAMILIES, HOWEVER THE KEY IS ACCESSING TREATMENT AND STAYING IN TREATMENT IS A VERY BIG CHALLENGE FOR THE FAMILIES OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR COUNTY. TO HELP THE ADVOCATES AND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, THE CURRENT LAWS HAVE TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO MANDATING TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN. AND DATA SHARING IS ALSO VITAL AND COMES WITH ITS OWN CHALLENGES, BUT THOSE CHALLENGES COULD BE OVERCOME WITH THE RIGHT SAFEGUARDS. SHARING INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE SUMMIT HOSTED BY OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHEDS THE LIGHT ON WHAT IS BEING DONE AS WELL AS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE FUTURE. WITHOUT SUCH A FORMAL AND FOCUSED PROCESS, MANY ARE UNAWARE OF THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEIR LINKAGE PROGRAM IN 22 OF OUR COURTS. THE ISSUE IS COMPLEX BUT MANY OTHER ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTY LIKE THE ISSUE OF JAIL POPULATION MANAGEMENT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE. THE FACT IS THAT OVER 4,300 OFFENDERS ARE RELEASED EARLY EVERY YEAR, ADDITIONALLY THE OVERCROWDING CONDITION HAS FORCED THE COUNTY TO EXCEED ITS STATE RATED CAPACITY BY ANOTHER 4,000. NO FORM OF DIVERSION WILL BE SUCCESSFUL ABSENT AVAILABLE JAIL BEDS. SO FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BASED UPON YOUR FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE AND INSIGHT ON DOWNTOWN JAIL, DO YOU AGREE THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THAT FACILITY?
JACKIE LACEY: I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THE FACILITY THAT THE BOARD HAS VOTED TO REPLACE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S BROKEN DOWN. IT'S UNFIT EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT MENTALLY ILL. IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH: BASED UPON YOUR FINDINGS SO FAR DO YOU THINK THE SHERIFF'S JAIL CAPACITY NEEDS WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE AS IT RELATES TO INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS GIVEN THE EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT BEDS IN THE COMMUNITY?
JACKIE LACEY: I HAVE TO QUALIFY MY STATEMENT BY SAYING, SUPERVISOR ANTONOVICH, I OF COURSE AM NOT IN CHARGE OF MANAGING THE JAIL, BUT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED FAR SHORT OF THEIR SENTENCES, I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ROOM IN THE JAIL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BELONG THERE. ANT THAT WOULD BE THOSE WOULD BE THOSE WHO WILLFULLY COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS AND CERTAINLY THERE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SECTION OF THOSE WHO ARE MENTALLY ILL WHO ARE VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS WHO SHOULD BE IN THAT SETTING. BUT IT ALLOWS US TO TREAT THEM MORE HUMANELY, PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES FOR THEM AND STOP, REALLY, PUNISHING THOSE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT LOW LEVEL OFFENSES, SUCH AS MISDEMEANOR AND LOW LEVEL FELONIES AND HAVING THEM TAKE UP THAT VALUABLE BED SPACE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH: I WANT TO COMMEND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ON THIS REPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WRITTEN REPORTS ON THIS AND THE VICTIMS' SERVICES THAT WE WILL RECEIVE EARLY NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.
SUP. KNABE, CHAIRMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JACKIE. ZEV?
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: YES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE NOT ENDORSING ANY PARTICULAR MODEL OF THE JAIL.
JACKIE LACEY: I AM DEFINITELY NOT ENDORSING.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: I LISTENED CAREFULLY WHO YOU SAID AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WHETHER WE BUILD A $2 BILLION OR $1 BILLION JAIL IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. CLEARLY WE ALL AGREE THAT THE EXISTING FACILITY IS RUN DOWN AND NOT FIT FOR ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.
JACKIE LACEY: ABSOLUTELY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: WHAT WE REPLACE IT WITH IS STILL A QUESTION MARK. THE SECOND THING IS IN TERMS OF DIVERSION PROGRAM AND WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT CAPACITY IS AN ISSUE. IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE, THE COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS AND PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE ARE NOT ENOUGH TO HANDLE WHAT WE'D LIKE TO HANDLE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T DO IT. WHAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO DO IS DRIVE AN INCREASE IN CAPACITY AS PART OF THIS OVERALL, OVERARCHING PROGRAM. CLEARLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO -- IF YOU ONLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TREAT 100 PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY-BASED SETTING BUT YOU HAVE 300 PEOPLE YOU WANT TO TREAT, THEN YOU CREATE THE CAPACITY FOR THE ADDITIONAL 200. THAT'S OUR JOB. THAT'S WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TASKFORCE. AND I THINK THE WHOLE UNDERPINNING OF THIS IS FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AND I THINK FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, TOO, IS THAT THE COST OF DOING THAT IS FAR LESS THAN THE COST OF MENTAL HEALTH -- OF TREATING MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS, INMATES IN OUR PRISONS. THE COST OF JUST CHECKING SOMEBODY IN TO ONE OF OUR BEDS IN THE PRISONS IS PROBABLY GREATER THAN THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS A WAY NOT ONLY MORE HUMANE BUT ALSO MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN THE UNDERPINNING OF WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO US IN THE FIRST PLACE. I JUST WANT TO SAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE MY LAST OPPORTUNITY HERE TO THANK YOU FOR TWO THINGS. NUMBER 1 FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS. I THINK IT'S ONE THING FOR A NON LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC OFFICIAL TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS SORT OF THING. IT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN ONE OF THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF OUR COUNTY, IN YOUR CASE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, GIVES THIS THE IMPRIMATUR OF ACCEPTABILITY. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CRITICAL IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE, THE COURTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AND ALL; BUT HAVING YOU ON THE FRONT END OF THIS HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER AS FAR AS THE DIVERSION DISCUSSION HAS BEEN CONCERNED. UP UNTIL THAT POINT, IT WAS JUST A LOT OF RHETORIC. BUT YOU HAVE MADE IT -- I MEAN, YOU GAVE ME THE MOTIVATION TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THIS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE COULD ACTUALLY BE A RESULT. WE'RE NOT JUST PASSING MOTIONS THAT IS GO NO WHEREAS WE SOMETIMES TEND TO DO. AND I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND THE SECOND THING I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IS BRINGING YOUR TEAM TOGETHER, BOTH INTERNALLY IN YOUR OFFICE AND BILL HODGEMAN AND THE OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR OFFICE WHO HAVE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH. YOU MENTION 44 DAYS TO GET THE M.O.U. DONE. THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE HODGEMAN AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER HAD HIS PEOPLE AND DAVE WESLEY AT THE COURTS HAD HIS PEOPLE. AND YOU HAVE MANAGED TO BRING BY YOUR EXAMPLE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE KEY PLAYERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BOTH IN THE PROSECUTION SIDE, THE DEFENSE SIDE AND THE JUDICIAL SIDE AND OF COURSE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AND THE PRIVATE PROVIDER SIDE AND YOU BROUGHT THEM ALL AND THEY'VE LEFT THEIR DEPARTMENTAL SEALS AT THE DOOR AND THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO GET A PRODUCT DONE. AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK WE ALL SHARE THIS FRUSTRATION, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN ENOUGH IN GOVERNMENT, AND EVEN IN OUR OWN GOVERNMENT. BUT IT JUST HAS DEMONSTRATED TO ME AS I WALK OUT THE DOOR, IT'S BEEN DEMONSTRATED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE THAT YOU CAN GET BIG THINGS DONE WHEN YOU DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT AND YOU JUST WANT TO GET THE END RESULT. AND THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SATISFYING, GRATIFYING THING TO WATCH AS YOU'VE BROUGHT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND I SENSE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE. THEY'RE NOT PUSHING PAPER, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING BIG THINGS, IN A WAY REVOLUTIONARY THINGS. THIS IS GOING TO WORK. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT CAN WORK. IT CAN IT WORK. I THINK THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED HERE SOON ENOUGH AS THE PILOT PROGRAM GETS GOING AND AS YOU SCALE IT UP. THE ONLY THING IS WHETHER THERE'S THE POLITICAL WILL TO SPEND THE MONEY AND SPEND IT WISELY, NOT JUST THROW MONEY AT SOMETHING BUT ACTUALLY PUT THE MONEY, INVEST THE MONEY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED IN ORDER TO GET THE RETURN WE'RE LOOKING FOR. HELP BUILD CAPACITY SO THAT WHEN YOU DIVERT SOMEBODY, YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO DIVERT THEM TO. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW ALL THIS. I AM JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, I AM SORRY THAT I CAN'T BE HERE TO WATCH IT UNFOLD AT LEAST HERE, BUT I WILL BE WATCHING IT. I THINK THIS WILL BE A REAL REVOLUTION FOR THIS COUNTY. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS. AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO GET IT DONE. WHATEVER THE COLLATERAL BENEFIT IS IN TERMS OF SCALING DOWN THE JAIL, THAT'S A COLLATERAL BENEFIT. THAT'S FROSTING ON THE CAKE. I'LL JUST MAKE ONE GRATUITOUS COMMENT ABOUT THE JAIL. I JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE WENT FROM A BILLION DOLLARS TO A BILLION THREE TO 2 BILLION IN A HEARTBEAT. AND IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. NOBODY CAN EXPLAIN WHY IT WENT FROM 1 TO 2 BILLION. AND THEN WE ACCEPT IT AS THOUGH IT'S THE GOSPEL. AND I UNDERSTAND THE C.E.O.'S OFFICE IS LOOKING TRYING TO SCRUB SOME OF THESE NUMBERS. I JUST CANNOT IMAGINE THAT IF IT WAS ME, I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO ENDORSE A PROJECT THAT IS SO EXPENSIVE WHEN THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION GIVEN FOR WHY IT NEEDS TO BE SO EXPENSIVE. THAT'S JUST ASIDE FROM THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WHATEVER THE COLLATERAL BENEFIT IS OF A DIVERSION PROGRAM OVER TIME WILL ENABLE US TO HOUSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT BUT JUST NEED TO BE INCARCERATED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS WHO WE'RE LETTING OUT THE DOOR TOO SOON AS YOU SAID. ANYWAY, I CONGRATULATE YOU, JACKIE. I WISH YOU WELL IN THIS PROGRAM. THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON IT AND I'M CONFIDENT WITH THIS TEAM AROUND YOU, IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE RESULTS.

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