In 2007, the Oregon Legislature authorized $4 million to divert mentally ill people from jails into community treatment centers. Starting in January, that money is being distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services to counties around the state. At least 10% of people in jails in Oregon have a mental illness, and jails have very few resources to treat them. The diversion program will only apply to people who are determined to not be a threat to public safety.

This news brief is based on a story in the Seattle Times, Ore. to use $4 million to get mentally ill from jail [1]. If the link is broken, check the newspaper’s archives.