Alternative Resource Management Program

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Often, inmates may have medical conditions that need intervention. In response, the Alternative Resource Management (ARM) program was formed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Medical Services Bureau. It was established as a process whereby specific Los Angeles County Departments worked collaboratively to identify inmates within the jail system, with significant medical conditions, who needed system intervention. These inmates could experience delays in trial process, transportation, and/or placement due to their medical condition. This process included identifying key stakeholders who improved the provision of services and conserved resources. The specific units involved were the Medical Services Bureau, Department of Mental Health, Custody Support Services, Court Services, Inmate Reception Center, Transportation Bureau, and the Community Transition Unit. On a daily basis, Medical Services Bureau staff would collaborate with other units in an effort to ensure that those inmates with serious medical problems were released timely through the custody release process. The committee would meet once a month to collaboratively discuss incarcerated inmates whose medical or mental health conditions, either acute or chronic, required a large expenditure of resources. For those hospitalized patients, Medical Services Bureau obtained information from the acute care hospital regarding the incarcerated individual’s ability to participate in their court proceedings. This information was forwarded to the courts for consideration of alternative sentencing or compassionate release.