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August 1, 2003
HONOLULU – A new program on the Big Island is diverting
non-violent mentally ill offenders from the criminal justice system to
mental health programs and support services. Hawaii is one of seventeen
jurisdictions to receive a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) grant of $300,000 per year, for up to three years, to help
develop jail diversion programs.
The target population is persons with severe and persistent mental
illness with or without a co-occurring substance abuse disorder that
have been arrested and charged with a non-violent misdemeanor and/or
petty misdemeanor.
Persons with mental illness are over-represented in the
nation’s jails and prisons. One study conducted in 1995 estimated
that with 10.1 million jail admissions per year, slightly more than 15%
have a serious mental disorder. Persons with severe and persistent
mental illness who are diverted from the criminal justice system and
receive mental health treatment in the community usually have a better
long-term prognosis and less chance of re-offending and returning to
jail.
The island of Hawaii was selected based on a proposal submitted by
the Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division. The program
aims to use community-based mental heath services including case
management, medications management, integrated mental health and
co-occurring substance abuse treatment and psychiatric
rehabilitation.
The Hawaii County Jail Diversion Program is a collaboration among
representatives of several Hawaii County organizations including the
Department of Public Safety, Hawai`i Intake Service Center and Hawai`i
Community Correctional Center; Circuit Court of the Third Circuit;
District Court of the Third Circuit, Probation Services; Hawai`i County
Police Department; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; Office of the
Public Defender; Big Island Substance Abuse Providers; Mental Health
Kokua; Mental Health Association in Hawai`i County; Office of Social
Ministry, Care-A-Van; Hawaii County Mental Health Service Area Board,
family members and consumers.
The Hawaii County Jail Diversion Program Advisory Council began
developing procedures in December 2002 and the Program began serving
clients May 2003.
For more information, contact:
Roxanne Aburamen
Hawaii County Jail Diversion Program Coordinator
Phone: (808) 933-0409
Janice Okubo
Communications Director
Phone: (808) 586-4442
E-mail: jsokubo@health.state.hi.us
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