It is well known that the best way to keep people with behavioral health challenges out of the criminal court system is to get them the help and resources they need before a crime is committed. One avenue for this is through diversion programs. DSHS and the Health Care Authority, through the DSHS vs. Trueblood lawsuit, have created several programs to divert people away from the criminal court system so they can get the necessary care when it is needed.
These include:
- Crisis triage and stabilization facilities
- Co-responder programs that pair behavioral health professionals with police officers for calls related to behavioral health
- Crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers
- Certified peer counselors
- Diversion navigators
- Prosecutorial Diversion Programs
Prosecutorial Diversion One Pager
Ideally, diversion happens before a crime is committed, but when that is not the case, behavioral health professionals and law enforcement can use the Sequential Intercept Model to keep people with behavioral health needs out of jail. For more on the Sequential Intercept Model, click here.
The Behavioral Health Administration offers two diversion programs for people who have been arrested and whose competency is being questioned. The Diversion Navigator Program pairs people with state staff who serve as officers of the courts, interim case managers, and community liaisons; learn more about the diversion navigator process here. The Prosecutorial Diversion Program offers people similar services through contracted programs.
For more information about DSHS diversion efforts, contact BHA Liaison and Diversion Specialist Jason Karpen at jason.karpen@dshs.wa.gov or the Diversion Navigator Program at dshsbha.DiversionNavigators@dshs.wa.gov.
Links to some diversion resources in Washington:
Central Washington Catholic Charities Diversion Programs
Clark County Diversion Program
Community Integrated Health Services Trueblood Diversion
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Post-Charge Diversion and Deferred Prosecution Program
King County Diversion and Reentry Services
Pierce County Trueblood Diversion Program
Snohomish County Diversion Center
Snohomish County Felony Diversion Program
Spokane County Diversion Program
Thurston County Diversion Program
Thurston County Pretrial Services
Washington Diversion Courts Directory