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Supervisors hear plan for behavioral health justice center to divert people with serious mental illness from jail
Summary
San Francisco supervisors held an extended hearing on a proposed Behavioral Health Justice Center designed to create a continuum of care — from emergency reception to a secure therapeutic unit — for people with serious mental illness who intersect the criminal justice system; members agreed to continue the item for more community input and details.
A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee on Wednesday heard detailed testimony on a proposed Behavioral Health Justice Center intended to provide a coordinated alternative to jails and emergency rooms for people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Supervisors heard from the plan's authors and partners, including Jennifer Johnson, a public defender and founder of the city's behavioral health court, Kathleen Lacey of UCSF Department of Psychiatry, and Susan Christian of the District Attorney's Office. The proposal, which District Attorney George Gascón circulated as a concept paper, describes a multi-level facility: Level 1 would be a 24/7 emergency mental health reception center; Level 2 would offer short-term transitional/crisis beds; Level 3 would provide long-term residential dual-diagnosis programs; and Level 4 would be a secure therapeutic unit for people in custody awaiting placement.
"The…
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