HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2001.01.10 - 26404Miscellaneous Resolution #01008 _
BY: Commissioner Shelley G. Taub, District #12
RE: Board of Commissioners — Creation of the Jail Diversion for Persons with Mental Illness
Task Force
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, approximately seven (7%) percent of the jail population is comprised of inmates
with a serious mental illness and the jail environment is not equipped to provide a comprehensive
range of mental health services; and
WHEREAS, mentally ill persons are the responsibility of the community as a whole, and
those appropriate arrestees for non-violent crimes could be better served if diverted before entering
the jail system to a mental health treatment program; and
WHEREAS, Oakland County continues to work toward maximizing and expanding the use
of alternatives to incarceration to effectively deal with non-violent offenders, emphasizing
accountability and strong graduated sanctions with appropriate mental health services; and
WHEREAS, the mental health concerns of incarcerated persons necessitate an integration
of community services for purposes of discharge planning and continuation of services upon release
from jail to reduce recidivism; and
WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Community Health requires all community mental
health services programs to provide services designed to divert persons with serious mental illness,
emotional disturbance or developmental disability from jail when appropriate.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners does hereby establish a 10-member Jail Diversion for Persons with Mental Illness
Task Force consisting of the following members:
Oakland County Sheriff (or designee)
Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney (or designee)
Oakland County Corporation Counsel (or designee)
Oakland County Commissioner
Manager, Oakland County Community Corrections (or designee)
Director, Oakland County Community Mental Health Agency (or designee)
Director, Alliance for the Mentally Ill (or designee)
Director, Common Ground (or designee)
Director, Oakland County Council for Adults and Children with Psychiatric Disabilities
(OCAP) (or designee)
Representative, Oakland County Law Enforcement
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the appointments shall be made by the Chairperson
of the Board of Commissioners within 14 days of the adoption of this resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
charges the Jail Diversion for Persons with Mental Illness Task Force to develop and implement a Jail
Diversion Program for Mentally Ill, non-violent offenders encompassing, but not limited to, pre-
booking diversion, training for law enforcement officers, priority status for law enforcement officers
at the screening agency with diversion candidates, appropriate array of community services for those
diverted which include all levels of mental health needs, linkages for mentally ill incarcerated inmates
to provide discharge planning and continuation of mental health services, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Jail Diversion for Persons with Mental Illness
Task Force provide the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff and County Executive with
recommendations to accomplish these systematic changes to reduce the mentally ill population in jail.
Mr. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissione
District #12
elley G. Taub
Resolution #01008 January 10, 2001
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Public Service and
General Government Committees. There were no objections.