Jail Diversion

man on frontJail diversion programs have developed in counties across the country to address the increasing involvement of persons with mental health or substance use problems in the criminal justice system. By diverting individuals with mental illness and substance use conditions away from the jails and prisons, and toward more appropriate community-based mental health care, these programs have provided alternatives to incarceration.

The development of this jail diversion program has involved the negotiation between the mental health system, law enforcement officers, attorneys, community agencies and the criminal justice system.

AltaPointe Jail Diversion Goals

Metro-JailThe jail diversion program seeks to prevent the criminalization and unnecessary incarceration of nonviolent misdemeanor adult offenders with mental health and substance abuse issues. It targets both male and female consumers, 19 years of age or older, with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders who have been incarcerated in the Mobile Bay region.

The jail diversion team will refer offenders who may have mental health issues but do not meet the jail diversion criteria to AltaPointe or other local healthcare service providers. AltaPointe jail diversion engages mentally ill offenders at the earliest opportunity and provides for continuity of care and supportive services as participants are released from jail and returned to the community.

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