Program Example

In 1994 DMHAS developed the first jail diversion program in the state for defendants with mental illness in Hartford. The program was the outcome of interagency discussion about the frequent re-arrest of people with serious mental illness. Prior to this program, the courts were helping defendants with mental illness obtain mental health services by finding them incompetent to stand trial and admitting them to psychiatric hospitals. This approach, geared towards enabling the defendants to become competent to stand trial, generally did not focus on their long-term needs.

The jail diversion program allows the courts and community mental health centers to work together for the benefit of the defendant. The clinicians who operate the diversion programs work out of the local community mental health centers. When those centers are run by DMHAS, the clinicians are DMHAS staff; when the centers are not run by DMHAS, they receive funding and supervision from DMHAS. All of the clinicians are licensed practitioners (social workers, nurses, psychologists) who receive training from DMHAS Division of Forensic Services. The diversion programs also offer training to the local police departments to enhance police understanding of mental illness and the alternatives to arrest for certain individuals.

The goals of the diversion program include the following: reduce recidivism of people with mental illness by providing access to treatment; reduce incarceration of individuals with mental illness for minor offenses; free jail beds for violent offenders; provide judges with additional sentencing options; increase the cost-effectiveness of the courts, Department of Corrections, and DMHAS.

The diversion staff conduct assessments of individuals who may be eligible for diversion, generally prior to arraignment. The diversion staff then propose a treatment plan as an alternative to incarceration, and work with the court and the treatment providers to ensure that the defendant complies with the diversion conditions. The only information that diversion staff provide to the court is a treatment plan and what options are available to the client. The nature of the illness and any diagnoses are kept confidential. The diversion team does not make the decision to divert; it simply offers options to the judges. If the client agrees to allow the clinician to share more information with the court it is easier to prepare a treatment plan that can be followed up by the court.

If the court does offer diversion to the defendant, possible outcomes include deferred prosecution with the condition of treatment, dismissal of charges, or probation with special condition of treatment. When possible, diversion staff followup on program participants to assess their success in the program.

Outcomes