Background:

Alternative Programming and Services for Persons Involved in the Criminal Justice System.

When a person commits a crime, he or she is typically arrested or cited, formally charged, and, if found guilty, sentenced to a term of incarceration or other conditions. However, there are formalized alternatives to traditional prosecution and sentencing that require participants to engage in treatment and other services such as therapeutic courts, deferred prosecution, and sentencing alternatives, among others. Some communities also have established programs that allow law enforcement officers to divert individuals who would otherwise be arrested into therapeutic programs and other services. For individuals who have served a term of incarceration, reentry services may assist with housing, employment, and other anticipated needs upon release.

Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) is a statewide organization consisting of executive and management personnel from law enforcement agencies. Membership includes sheriffs, police chiefs, the Washington State Patrol, the Washington Department of Corrections, and representatives of a number of federal agencies. The WASPC has been given administrative responsibility for certain statewide programs, and several grant programs, including grant programs targeting gang crime, graffiti and tagging abatement, denied firearm purchase attempts, sexual assault kits, and metal theft.

Summary of Bill:

Subject to appropriated funds, the WASPC must administer a criminal justice system diversion center pilot project (pilot).

The primary objective of the pilot is to make improvements in several areas, including: reducing recidivism; reducing the use of crisis and emergency resources; decreasing behaviors associated with untreated behavioral health conditions; increasing effective engagement with treatment providers; increasing housing stability; increasing engagement in prosocial activity; and increasing rates of employment and financial self-sufficiency.

Eligibility Criteria.

An eligible applicant must be a county that meets specified geographic and population parameters. To qualify, the county must be located west of the crest of the Cascade mountain range and have a population of not less than 750,000 and not more than 815,000 residents, and also contain a city with a population of not less than 90,000 and not more than 150,000 residents. In addition, the applicant must have established or be willing to establish a coordinated effort with committed partners.

The WASPC must develop policies and procedures for the application process, disbursement of the grant award, tracking compliance, and measuring outcomes. The successful applicant must be selected and begin receiving funds by July 1, 2018.

Pilot Description.

The grant recipient must establish approximately 40 residential beds for short term placements of up to 90 days. Placement must be prioritized for these target populations:

individuals referred by law enforcement who are suspected of having committed a non-violent crime and whose behavior is suspected to have been influenced by a behavioral health issue;
individuals referred by social workers embedded with law enforcement agencies who have previous involvement in the criminal justice system and who are awaiting an inpatient residential treatment bed or are working toward self-sufficiency following inpatient treatment; and
individuals with behavioral health issues who are releasing from jail and are working with reentry services to address housing and other needs.

Skilled staff must be available 24 hours per day and seven days per week to deliver: medical screening and support; needs assessment services; assertive engagement into available services; individualized recovery plan development; facilitated contact with treatment providers; and other services.

The pilot must have a site that is in a location that provides convenient access to relevant programming, such as: housing and essential needs assistance; homelessness services; veterans' services; behavioral health services; employment services; the Department of Social and Health Services community services; and other services as necessary.

Reporting.

The grant recipient and the WASPC must adhere to minimum reporting requirements. Reported information must include:

a comparison of arrest bookings and jail bed days for individuals served in the pilot, including data from six months and one year prior to admission, and, if possible, six months and one year following admission;
an analysis of connections to behavioral health services among those served in the pilot, including data from six months and one year prior to admission, and, if possible, six months and one year following admission;
a comparison of impacts to housing stability for those served in the pilot, including data from six months and one year prior to admission, and, if possible, six months and one year following admission; and
the number of individuals who, through participation in the pilot: were connected to a detox program; completed a detox program; completed a chemical dependency assessment; completed chemical dependency treatment; and were connected to housing.

The grant recipient must collect data as needed to complete the reporting requirement and must provide a draft analysis and report to the WASPC by October 1, 2019. The WASPC must report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2019.