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Fulton County officials say court–behavioral health partnership has reduced jailings, explore supported housing
Summary
County commissioners heard that a mental health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator have increased deferrals to community-based treatment, reduced the county’s jailed population at the Bedford County Correctional Facility and produced measurable cost savings; officials said they will map resources and explore supported housing options.
At their Jan. 20, 2026 meeting in McConnelsburg, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners heard from representatives of the justice system and behavioral health about a local effort to steer people with behavioral health needs into community treatment rather than jail. A justice system representative said the implementation of a mental health court co-responder and a recovery supports navigator has increased deferrals to community-based treatment resources and reduced the number of individuals incarcerated at the Bedford County Correctional Facility, producing measurable cost savings for the county.
A behavioral health representative told the board these efforts are funded through a mix of Fulton County Mental Health resources and grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Officials described next steps as mapping available resources to support training and identifying supported housing options to help people remain in community care rather than returning to custody.
The presentation did not include specific headcounts or dollar figures for the reduction in incarceration; meeting minutes state that the reduction and cost savings were “measurable” but give no numeric details. Commissioners did not take formal action on new spending during the public portion of the meeting; next steps discussed were planning and resource-mapping. The transcript names the Bedford County Correctional Facility as the site where reductions were observed.
