Amendment ID: S2133-8

Amendment 8

Pre-Arrest Jail Diversion

Ms. Spilka moves to amend the bill by inserting at the end thereof the following section:-

SECTION XX.  Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 24 the following section:

Section 25.  The commissioner shall establish a pre-arrest jail diversion program in consultation with local law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, and social workers. Such program shall provide opportunities to divert individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders out of the criminal justice system and into community based mental health and substance use disorder treatment services where such diversion is clinically appropriate and consistent with public safety. The commissioner shall establish, monitor and evaluate pilot projects in cities, towns or regions of the commonwealth, using evidence-based program designs for effectuating clinically appropriate, safe and effective diversion of such individuals. The commissioner shall monitor and evaluate all ongoing jail diversion programs, including pre-arrest jail diversions programs, in the cities, towns, or regions of the commonwealth.