HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2022.06.07 - 355804
COUNTY MICHIGAN
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
June 7, 2022
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #22-203
Sponsored By: Charles Cavell, Yolanda Smith Charles, Marcia Gershenson, Michael Gingell, Robert Hoffman,
Janet Jackson, Karen Joliat, Adam Kochenderfer, Eileen Kowall, Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen
Markham, Gary McGillivray, William Miller III, Chuck Moss, Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell, Michael Spisz,
Philip Weipert, David Woodward
Board of Commissioners - Resolution Supporting the 2022 Stepping Up Initiative to Reduce the Number
of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS counties routinely provide treatment services to the estimated 2 million people with serious mental
illnesses booked into jail each year; and
WHEREAS prevalence rates of serious mental illnesses in jails are three to six times higher than for the general
population; and
WHEREAS almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co-occurring substance
use disorders; and
WHEREAS adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are at a higher risk of
recidivism than people without these disorders; and
WHEREAS county jails spend two to three times more on adults with mental illnesses that require
interventions compared to those without these treatment needs; and
WHEREAS without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses continue to cycle
through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for these individuals and their families;
and
WHEREAS Oakland County and all counties take pride in their responsibility to protect and enhance the
health, welfare, and safety of its residents in efficient and cost-effective ways; and
WHEREAS recognizing the Stepping Up Initiative and May as Mental Health Month increases awareness and
understanding of mental illness, the need for appropriate and accessible services and the use of alternative
incarceration for all people with mental illness to promote recovery; and
WHEREAS Oakland County has been a pioneer and continues to work toward maximizing and expanding
services and the use of alternatives to incarceration to effectively deal with non-violent offenders and
individuals with mental illness; and
WHEREAS Oakland County joined this initiative in 2016, per MR #16015, and reaffirmed their support of the
Initiative with Misc. Resolutions #18106, #20153, and 421198; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Community Correctional Division provides an array of sentencing
alternatives with programs, services, and resources for individuals with mental illnesses who enter into the
criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS the Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) strives to inspire hope, empower people, and
strengthen communities for Oakland County residents. The OCHN and its provider network and Substance Use
Treatment & Prevention Service Providers identify, influence, and deliver public mental health services to more
than 27,000 Oakland County citizens with serious mental illness, substance use, developmental disabilities and
childhood emotional disorder to improve their lives and prevent the risk of entering the criminal justice system;
and
WHEREAS the OCHN has established its Resource and Crisis Center which helps people stay out of jail by
offering crisis intervention and access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment; and
WHEREAS the OCHN provides funding for programs and services with the Oakland County jail and has
identified initiatives such as Pre -Booking Jail Diversion Program, Jail Alliance With Support (JAWS); and
WHEREAS the OCHN has identified funding for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement
offices; and
WHEREAS with identified funding the Oakland County Sheriff s Office and Oakland Community Health
Network have collaborated in developing the Jail, Diversion Program and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
training for CIT Deputies to be better equipped to deal with subjects with a mental illness and better assess if a
subject is a qualified candidate for Pre -Booking Jail Diversion Program; and
WHEREAS the OCHN works in collaboration with its community partners including, National Alliance for
Mental Illness (NAMI), Oakland County Health Division, Oakland County Law Enforcement agencies, and the
Oakland County Sheriffs Office (OCSO); and
WHEREAS through the Stepping Up Initiative, the National Association of Counties, the Council of State
Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Foundation are encouraging counties to reduce the
number of people with mental illnesses in county jails.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports
the Call to Action to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in our county jail, commit to sharing
lessons learned with other counties in Michigan and across the country to support a national initiative and
encourage all county officials, employees and residents to participate in Stepping Up.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon our judicial and
criminal justice systems, law enforcement, government agencies, public and private institutions, community -
based organizations, and citizens to recommit our state to increasing awareness and understanding of mental
illness, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental illness to promote
recovery and prevent the entry into the criminal justice system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of this
resolution to the Oakland County Community Correctional Division, the Oakland Community Health Network
and the Michigan Association of Counties.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Charles Cavell, Yolanda
Smith Charles, Marcia Gershenson, Michael Gingell, Robert Hoffman, Janet Jackson, Karen Joliat,
Adam Kochenderfer, Eileen Kowall, Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen Markham, Gary McGillivray,
William Miller III, Chuck Moss, Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell, Michael Spisz, Philip Weipert, David
Woodward.
Date: June 08, 2022
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: June 09, 2022
Hilarie Chambers, Deputy County Executive II
4 1
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Date: June 09, 2022
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-05-17 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - recommend to Board
2022-06-07 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Kristen Nelson seconded by Commissioner Charles Cavell to adopt the attached
Resolution: Supporting the 2022 Stepping Up Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses
in Jails.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen Kowall,
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn, Charles Moss, Marcia
Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary
McGillivray, Robert Hoffman, Adam Kochenderfer (21)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 7, 2022, with
the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds