SB 837

Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations.

This bill creates a similar grant program under which DOJ, in collaboration with DOC and DHS, awards grants to counties and tribes to establish or expand programs that provide alternatives to prosecution and incarceration for criminal offenders who are low to medium risk and who have a mental illness that is a contributing factor to their interaction with the criminal justice system. Under the bill, the grant program is established as a pilot program so that no grants may be awarded after five years. At the close of the pilot program, DOJ must prepare a summary outcome report and include an opinion as to whether to continue, modify, or expand the program.