Insider NJ | September 6, 2022
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure better outcomes for defendants with serious mental health needs who are on pretrial monitoring, Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced a new pilot program in Camden, Essex and Middlesex counties to identify and connect these individuals to mental health treatment and other vital social services.
Under the state’s risk-based pre-trial release system, unless a detention motion is filed, a judge must issue a pretrial release decision within 48 hours of jail admission. Release decisions often occur on the same day, sometimes within 6 hours of admission, which can make it challenging to identify and provide treatment to an individual with serious mental illness before they are released.
The mental health diversion program is voluntary, and will provide support and connect individuals on pretrial monitoring to critical mental health, and co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder treatment, housing, medical and other essential social service supports.
“This will help identify individuals with mental health needs early in the pretrial release process so they can receive the support needed when they are released to the community,” said Commissioner Adelman. “This is a voluntary program, which means those who participate want the help, which is already a step in the right direction. Individuals who participate will be connected to community resources such as housing and employment, and to mental health and substance use assessments, evaluations and treatment to assist their reintegration.”
The Department awarded $1.25 million in funding to Oaks Integrated Care ($416,666) Camden Co; Legacy Treatment Services ($409,035) Middlesex Co.; and the Mental Health Association-Essex/Morris ($424,299) Essex Co. to develop the pilot program, which will provide screening, support, referrals for and provisions of community-based services to address the individual’s mental health and psychiatric rehabilitation needs.
