CNCounty News

Podcast: Mental health and the criminal justice system

Podcast

Miami-Dade County, Fla. Administrative Judge Steve Leifman joined the County News Podcast to outline systems that can be put in place in counties across the country — often using existing resources and without the need for new laws or regulations — to help direct people in mental health distress toward resources that will help them receive the treatment they need while also making better use of resources counties are otherwise spending on jail operations and expansion.

County News Podcast

Take a deep dive on issues impacting local governments across the country, share in lessons on leadership from county leaders and their counterparts in Washington, and learn more about what it takes to strengthen America's counties on the County News Podcast.

Related News

Children participating in Miami-Dade County, Fla.’s Zero Drowning initiative show off their drawstring backpacks.
News

‘Zero drowning’ program boosts safety and prevents deaths

Miami-Dade County, Fla. teaches children how to swim at no-cost and provide more community education around water safety, cutting down on what had been the leading cause of death for children ages 1-14.

1496541963
Advocacy

The Michelle Alyssa Go Act: Why Reforming the IMD Exclusion Matters for County Behavioral Health

Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2025, the bipartisan Michelle Alyssa Go Act (H.R. 5462) aims to modernize the IMD exclusion and expand access to care.

After completing the Okeechobee High School CTE Fire Program, Braxton Lewis (pictured in the middle) was offered a job with Fire Rescue. Photo courtsey of Okeechobee County
County News

Rural county program preps students for first responder careers

Okeechobee County, Fla.’s public safety career programs are giving young people the tools to jumpstart their careers and helping address the county’s workforce shortages in fire rescue, dispatch and law enforcement. 

Upcoming Events