On September 12, 2016, the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners approved LSF Health Systems to serve as lead applicant for the Florida Department of Children and Families grant opportunity “Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant (CJMHSA),” on behalf of the county. The primary goal of the $58,313 grant was to assess and plan for initiatives that increase public safety, avert increased spending on the criminal justice system and improve the accessibility and effectiveness of treatment services for adults who have a mental illness, substance abuse disorders, or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, who are in, or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
At the March 27, 2018 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, Hernando County Health and Human Service Manager Veda Ramirez presented an overview of the study, identifying points of intervention or diversion for individuals 18 years of age and older with mental illness or substance abuse from the criminal justice system.
Several local and state agencies participated, including The Hernando County Community Coalition, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), The Dawn Center, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). Commissioner John Allocco was mentioned as a participant in the Steering Committee.
The assessment found that Hernando County exceeded the state’s rates in suicide (from 2004-2015), mental health hospitalization and domestic violence. At the Hernando County Detention Center, 21% of booked inmates stated they were on prescription medications for mental health disorders, with 17.9% receiving psychotropic medication. Psychotropic medications can also include meds such as tramadol and morphine, which affect cognition and mood, but are not used to treat mental illness.
Other issues identified in the assessment, particularly gaps in available services, or barriers individuals face, such as lack of comprehensive public transportation, no stable long-term housing, and general lack of resources. According to the results, these barriers will increase likelihood that people with mental illness will end up in jail.
LSF Health Systems is seeking board approval to apply for next cycle, which will include a $400,000 grant, with a 10% match by the county. The next steps will be to implement and expand diversion programs, which will prevent inappropriate incarceration of those with mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and reducing jail time for those currently incarcerated. The program will also put offenders in touch with appropriate community services following jail or prison.
Overall, reduced spending on the criminal justice system is expected. Data available from Lake County showed a savings of $194,400 when 20 inmates were identified and intercepted for diversion and treatment for 180 days. Greater savings for Hernando County is expected due to higher average costs per day for a jail bed.
Commissioner Nick Nicholson stated his support of diversion programs “For a minor crime … (offenders) mostly go to jail … have a criminal record, and to re-enter the workforce, makes it much more difficult.” Nicholson acknowledged the cost-savings in diversion, as well as having citizens remain productive in the workforce, whereas incarcerated, they cannot.
Two motions were voted on by the BOCC, the first giving permission to apply for the expansion and implementation phase, and the second to gather all required financial reports to submit to the state. Both passed unanimously.