New Plan Meant To Keep Mentally Ill Out Of Jail

A Tulsa County plan to make sure mentally ill offenders are not needlessly jailed goes into effect Monday. <br><br>Floyd Long, supervisor of programs for Tulsa County's Pre-Trial Release Program,

Sunday, January 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa County plan to make sure mentally ill offenders are not needlessly jailed goes into effect Monday.

Floyd Long, supervisor of programs for Tulsa County's Pre-Trial Release Program, said the program aims to make sure mentally ill inmates get the help they need instead of undue punishment. Under the program, an inmate's mental status is evaluated in 24 to 48 hours, Long said. Upon booking at the jail, an inmate is screened by Prison Health Services staff and seen by a member of the Pre-Trial Release staff before a referral might be made to mental health officials.

Mental health care providers want to expand the program even more. They envision working with the jail mental health service officers before an inmate has a bond hearing or a pretrial release hearing, said Greer Fites, program administrator for Parkside Hospital's Mobile Outreach and Crisis Services. After a mental health staff member sees that an inmate needs help, Parkside will begin its work with the inmate, Fites said.

Some inmates, especially those who have committed violent offenses, will not qualify for the diversion program. Linda Johnson, who chaired the task force on local jail diversion, said she has found that when mentally ill people are jailed, it is usually because they cause disturbances -- not for violent crimes.

"In fact, the bulk of crimes committed by the mentally ill are for disturbing those around them," she said. "Arresting someone for odd or weird behavior is simply inappropriate."

Other cities have started a jail diversion program, including Eugene, Ore., Memphis and Honolulu. According to Justice Department figures, 7 percent of jail detainees have acute and serious mental illness when they are booked. Nearly 50 percent have other lesser mental health diagnoses like anxiety and social personality disorders.