THE COUNTRY THAT HAS NOT PAID OFF THAT LOAN. GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM JUST SIGNED A BILL OVERHAULING THE STATE’S CONTROVERSIAL MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM ALLOWS CERTAIN OFFENDERS TO AVOID JAIL TIME BY GOING INTO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. BUT CRITICS SAY IT HAS LED TO VIOLENT OFFENDERS GOING FREE AND THEN REOFFENDING. TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED AB 46. IT GIVES JUDGES THE POWER TO DENY DIVERSION FOR HIGH RISK CRIMINALS. IT REQUIRES THOSE IN THE PROGRAM TO HAVE A QUALIFYING DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND IT ALSO REQUIRES STRONGER DOCUMENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE GOVERNOR WROTE THIS TONIGHT. WE ARE PROUD TO PRESERVE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM IT, WHILE ENSURING JUDGES HAVE THE DISCRETION THEY NEED TO PROTECT VICTIM
Newsom signs bill to give judges more power to deny mental health diversion
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill to overhaul the state’s mental health diversion program. Assembly Bill 46, authored by Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, addresses concerns about public safety and accountability. The program has allowed certain offenders to receive mental health treatment instead of jail time, but critics have argued it has led to violent offenders reoffending.The bill grants judges the authority to deny diversion for high-risk individuals, requires participants to have a qualifying diagnosis or treatment within the last five years, and mandates stronger documentation and accountability measures. “We are proud to preserve mental health diversion for people who can benefit from it while ensuring judges have the discretion they need to protect victims, safeguard communities, and make decisions based on the full picture before them,” Newsom said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill to overhaul the state’s mental health diversion program.
Assembly Bill 46, authored by Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, addresses concerns about public safety and accountability.
The program has allowed certain offenders to receive mental health treatment instead of jail time, but critics have argued it has led to violent offenders reoffending.
The bill grants judges the authority to deny diversion for high-risk individuals, requires participants to have a qualifying diagnosis or treatment within the last five years, and mandates stronger documentation and accountability measures.
“We are proud to preserve mental health diversion for people who can benefit from it while ensuring judges have the discretion they need to protect victims, safeguard communities, and make decisions based on the full picture before them,” Newsom said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google