Stepping Up to Reduce Mental Illness at County Jail
Like many other counties across the nation, the County of San Luis Obispo faces systemic problems as the number of County Jail inmates with mental illness continues to climb.
The County Jail has an average daily population of approximately 600 inmates; of that, approximately 40% are taking psychotropic medications. The County’s jail faces similar issues that other counties across the nation face, including:
Despite important efforts already underway in many counties, there is an urgent need to address this national crisis using a common, data-driven process that encourages innovation and brings good work to scale. Keeping individuals out of jails and on the road to recovery requires a collaborative approach between all criminal justice agencies and mental health and substance use treatment agencies.
“The first step to making groundbreaking change is recognition,” said Sheriff-Coroner Ian Parkinson. “We are committed to identifying issues and making improvements related to mentally ill persons in custody and in the community with support from the Board of Supervisors.”
The County took several steps last year to reduce the number of adults with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders in County Jail. Below are some of the ways the County addressed these issues.
Community Action Team
The Sheriff recognized the need for improved criminal justice coordination between other County departments and organizations within our community to address the needs of mentally ill persons who encounter the criminal justice system. A Community Action Team was approved and initiated in 2017. The team works directly with mentally ill individuals in the community and plays a significant role in the release of individuals from County Jail.
Mental Health Task Force
The Sheriff Office also created a Mental Health Task Force to provide input on how to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail and to provide increased treatment for the mentally ill at the jail. Under the framework of The Stepping Up Initiative, the creation of this team is another layer of dedication to the mental health needs of our community. The goal of the Sheriff’s Mental Health Task Force is to be a planning team identifying issues and best practices and proposing solutions to the Stepping Up Executive Team for prioritization, development and implementation. The task force is composed of key leaders from the justice system, including:
The Stepping Up Executive Team is comprised of:
Adopting the Stepping Up Initiative
The County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on October 10, 2017, supporting the Stepping Up Initiative. By joining the national Stepping Up Initiative the County joins public, private, and nonprofit partners to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. In a little more than 2 years, more than 400 counties (representing 43 states and 40% of the United States population) will have joined Stepping Up. The initiative addresses four key areas:
The County is committed to reducing the number of adults with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders in County Jail.
The County Jail has an average daily population of approximately 600 inmates; of that, approximately 40% are taking psychotropic medications. The County’s jail faces similar issues that other counties across the nation face, including:
- Routinely providing treatment services to people with serious mental illnesses booked into jail each year
- Prevalence rates of serious mental illnesses in jails are three to six times higher than for the general public
- Almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co-occurring substance use disorders
- Adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and, upon release, are at a higher risk of recidivism than people without these disorders
- County jails spend two to three times more on adults with mental illnesses that require interventions compared to those without these treatment needs
- Without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for these individuals and their families
Despite important efforts already underway in many counties, there is an urgent need to address this national crisis using a common, data-driven process that encourages innovation and brings good work to scale. Keeping individuals out of jails and on the road to recovery requires a collaborative approach between all criminal justice agencies and mental health and substance use treatment agencies.
“The first step to making groundbreaking change is recognition,” said Sheriff-Coroner Ian Parkinson. “We are committed to identifying issues and making improvements related to mentally ill persons in custody and in the community with support from the Board of Supervisors.”
The County took several steps last year to reduce the number of adults with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders in County Jail. Below are some of the ways the County addressed these issues.
Community Action Team
The Sheriff recognized the need for improved criminal justice coordination between other County departments and organizations within our community to address the needs of mentally ill persons who encounter the criminal justice system. A Community Action Team was approved and initiated in 2017. The team works directly with mentally ill individuals in the community and plays a significant role in the release of individuals from County Jail.
Mental Health Task Force
The Sheriff Office also created a Mental Health Task Force to provide input on how to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail and to provide increased treatment for the mentally ill at the jail. Under the framework of The Stepping Up Initiative, the creation of this team is another layer of dedication to the mental health needs of our community. The goal of the Sheriff’s Mental Health Task Force is to be a planning team identifying issues and best practices and proposing solutions to the Stepping Up Executive Team for prioritization, development and implementation. The task force is composed of key leaders from the justice system, including:
- The County Jail manager
- Prosecutors
- Defense counsel
- Law enforcement personnel
- Community members
- County Health Agency Behavioral Health staff
- Other community-based behavioral healthcare providers
- Representatives from the community, including organizations representing people with mental illnesses and their families.
The Stepping Up Executive Team is comprised of:
- The Sheriff
- The Public Defender
- A representative from the District Attorney’s Office
- The Behavioral Health Administrator
- The Public Health Officer
- The Chief Probation Officer
- County Administrative Office representative
Adopting the Stepping Up Initiative
The County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on October 10, 2017, supporting the Stepping Up Initiative. By joining the national Stepping Up Initiative the County joins public, private, and nonprofit partners to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. In a little more than 2 years, more than 400 counties (representing 43 states and 40% of the United States population) will have joined Stepping Up. The initiative addresses four key areas:
- Reduce the number of people with mental illnesses booked into jail
- Reduce the length of time people with mental illnesses remain in jail
- Increase connections to treatment
- Reduce recidivism or the cycle of crime.
The County is committed to reducing the number of adults with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders in County Jail.