County-Led Decarceration Through Expanding Behavioral Health Care
Key Takeaways
Counties across the country are working to reduce the number of people in jails through addressing behavioral health resource gaps.
- Improving access to mental health services enables counties to implement non-carceral alternatives.
- A study funded by the National Institute on Mental Health identified factors that predict jail population size including county-level health care services availability and accessibility, demographics, socioeconomic status and criminal legal characteristics. The study observed that greater access to mental health services was associated with significantly lower incarceration rates.
Access and availability of mental health services is crucial in providing a sufficient diversion path for individuals.
- The same study reported that an increased police presence in a community was associated with a higher rate of incarceration. Moreover, while controlling for county size, violent crime rate did not predict incarceration levels.
- Why it matters: This analysis suggests that the traditional crime control model will not be the solution to overincarceration; rather, a focus on availability and accessibility of mental health service may provide an alternative option and may lead to lower utilization of county jail beds.
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- The same study reported that an increased police presence in a community was associated with a higher rate of incarceration. Moreover, while controlling for county size, violent crime rate did not predict incarceration levels
- Why it matters: This analysis suggests that the traditional crime control model will not be the solution to overincarceration; rather, a focus on availability and accessibility of mental health service may provide an alternative option and may lead to lower utilization of county jail beds.
NACo’s Stepping Up initiative is providing support.
- Started in 2015, Stepping Up provides counties with resources and tools to bolster cross-system collaboration and implement data-driven practices. This work aims to reduce the prevalence of individuals with serious mental illness in local criminal legal systems and increase access to care for those with serious mental illness.
- See it in action: Stepping Up counties have seen success since becoming a part of the initiative. For example, Fairfax County operates the Merrifield Crisis Response Center. The Center offers 24-hour emergency services, a mobile crisis team, along with entry, referral and assessment services. Since 2016, over 2,800 people with mental illness have been diverted from potential arrest. For more about the work of Fairfax County to address mental health in jails, click here.
Featured Initiative
The Stepping Up Initiative
The Stepping Up Initiative is a data-driven framework that aims to reduce the overincarceration of people with mental illnesses in jails through training, resources, and support that are tailored to local needs.
U.S. House reintroduces legislation to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy with NACo support
Two bipartisan bills aimed at addressing the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) were recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives re-establishes Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus with NACo support
On May 7, members of the U.S. House of Representatives appointed new leadership to the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis through cross-party collaboration.
New disaster recovery grants now open to support county economic development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has launched the Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, making $1.45 billion available to help communities recover from natural disasters and build long-term economic resilience. Counties affected by major disaster declarations in 2023 or 2024 are eligible to apply for funding to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen local economies and prepare for future disruptions. This program goes beyond immediate recovery, aiming to transform local economies and foster sustainable, long-term economic growth.
Congress introduces Second Chance Act reauthorization
On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.
Fire and emergency response grants now open for counties
On May 20, FEMA announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program and the Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which support fire departments and firefighter organizations in increasing staffing and improving safety nationwide.