In San Diego County, help for mentally ill offenders can come from several sources — including the county and the courts — but demand is high, resources are limited and people, especially those living on the street, can fall through the cracks.
Last month, the county Board of Supervisors approved a three-year spending plan for new and existing programs, some of which focus specifically on people with serious mental illness who are also in the criminal justice system.
The funding — nearly $570 million over the next three years — comes from the Mental Health Services Act, passed by California voters in 2004, which imposes a 1 percent tax on millionaires’ income. (The county also receives money for mental health programs from other local, state and federal sources.)
By the end of the fiscal year, San Diego County will have funneled more than $33 million in Mental Health Services Act funding to programs and services geared toward people with mental illness who are also in the criminal justice system.
To read more of Dana Littlefield's article, visit, http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-mentalhealth-justice-20171112-story.html
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