THE SHASTA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS PUSHING FOR CHANGES TO CALIFORNIA’S MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAM. ACTION NEWS NOW REPORTER TIMEA HORVATH REPORTS WHY
REDDING, Calif. – Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett is advocating for changes to California’s Mental Health Diversion Program, emphasizing its potential risks to the community.
Bridgett is pushing for a new law to make it more challenging for offenders to receive diversion.
“We’re seeing it happen again and again and it’s very concerning for us, not only because of what we do, but for our concern for the community and for victims,” said Bridgett.
The current program allows people with mental health issues linked to their crime to receive treatment instead of incarceration. While supporters argue it’s essential for rehabilitation, Bridgett believes the system lacks adequate power for courts to deny diversion requests.
“It’s been extremely frustrating not just for myself personally but for all of the prosecutors in the office because they’re seeing these cases where they really want to protect the victim they really want to see justice served and they’re seeing that that is just some a tool that’s been taken away from them and they feel like they can’t do their job to the fullest extent that they want to,” said Bridgett.
Bridgett’s office is witnessing an increase in requests for mental health diversion, leading to concerns about repeat offenses.
“There’s numerous examples we’re at a point now where people are making mental health diversion motion requests weekly. I mean we have so many cases where that is the request from defense. We’re having a lot of cases that are getting mental health diversion granted at this point and we’re seeing a significant number of cases that are reoffending at some point during their treatment plan or not or not long after,” said Bridgett.
Assembly Bill 46, which Bridgett supports, aims to enhance program safety by closing loopholes that allow repeat offenders to avoid jail time.
The bill proposes giving courts more discretion to deny mental health diversion requests when public safety is at risk. It would also expand the list of crimes not eligible for diversion, including attempted murder, kidnapping, and human trafficking.
“It really puts a lot more safeguards around the program to allow people who should and can benefit from it to still get it but also protect our community and protect victims,” said Bridgett.
The bill has already passed the Senate Public Safety Committee, and Bridgett believes it has a strong chance of becoming law. She urges Shasta County residents to contact their state lawmakers if they wish to support the bill.
Lawmakers are expected to continue reviewing the bill in the coming weeks.