Pre-Sentencing Jail Diversion Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In September 2014, Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services (HAMHDS) sought and was awarded a grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop a Jail Diversion Program. The target population for the Jail Diversion Program is incarcerated individuals who have been identified as having a mental illness. The primary goal of the Jail Diversion Program is to identify these inmates after they have been booked but before sentencing so that staff can work with the inmate to develop a release plan. The release plan is presented to the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the Judge for approval. As a result of this intervention and planning early in the inmate’s incarceration, these individuals with mental illness will have: • the opportunity to return to the community with wrap-around treatment services to ensure their success; • experience reduced jail times (resulting in significant cost savings); and, • have reduced recidivism rates.