ICYMI:

Mental Health Diversion Programs Are a Win for All Involved

Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO

MERCERVILLE: There is a bill awaiting a full Senate vote, S.524, which would expand upon existing mental health diversion programs operating in New Jersey. It should receive the full support of both the Senate and Assembly.

New Jersey currently has several successful mental health diversion programs. There is the Justice Involved Services (JIS) program funded and overseen by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) that operates in 14 counties. There are Prosecutor run pilots in several counties that are funded by the Attorney General’s office, as well as a couple previously piloted counties that continue to operate with self-funding. There is also a DMHAS pilot in three counties that seeks to connect with individuals during pre-trial monitoring with a goal of assisting entry to an existing diversion program.

The Prosecutor programs have operated for over a decade and JIS programs for much longer. All of these work to connect individuals who have become involved in the criminal justice system and who have a mental illness that is a contributing factor to any criminal behavior to treatment and resources that will put them on a path toward responsible citizenship. There are eligibility requirements for each program. All exclude certain crimes and all provide Prosecutor discretion. JIS, as well as the newly expanded ARRIVE program, also offer law enforcement discretion, altogether avoiding charges. And all involve assessments by qualified mental health professionals.

These programs, including those proposed in S.524, rely on the experience of the Courts, Prosecutors, mental health professionals and others to determine the appropriateness of any individual to enter a diversion program. S.524 also clearly gives victims a say in the application process.

Our jails and prisons have become mental health facilities by default, with many individuals circling through repeatedly because they never receive the healthcare and social service supports they need and deserve as an alternative. Diversion programs stop the cycle, giving individuals an exit ramp from recidivism. S.524 provides for Court oversight, and charges pending unless the enrollee successfully participates in the program. Diversion is an option that serves not only the individual, but our communities and the state’s bottom line. Mental Health Diversion programs have proven themselves to be a win for all involved. NJAMHAA encourages all New Jersey’s legislators to support their expansion by voting yes on S.524.