{"id":52800,"date":"2022-09-27T17:03:09","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T00:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=52800"},"modified":"2022-09-27T17:03:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T00:03:09","slug":"barger-reacts-to-outcome-of-board-of-supervisors-vote-on-providing-mental-health-services-to-incarcerated-individuals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=52800","title":{"rendered":"Barger Reacts to Outcome of Board of Supervisors\u2019 Vote on Providing Mental Health Services to Incarcerated Individuals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles, CA (September 27, 2022)<\/strong> – Today, a motion<\/a>\u00a0authored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger that called for the County to comply with the constitution and report back with non-custodial, secure mental health treatment facility models for incarcerated individuals who cannot be diverted was rejected by the Board of Supervisors.<\/p>\n

Supervisor Barger issued the following statement reacting to the outcome of the vote:<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m disappointed that my motion was mischaracterized as a call to build a new jail that would provide mental health treatment. It was not. In fact \u2013 it was nearly the equivalent of a very similar\u00a0<\/em>motion<\/em><\/a>\u00a0that was approved by the Board today.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Both motions called for a secure and non-custodial alternative where we can effectively care for those who are currently detained and deteriorating while under the County\u2019s supervision.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We must face the hard reality that we will always have individuals who will not qualify for diversion programs due to the nature of their crimes. It\u2019s wrong to pit a \u2018care first, jails last\u2019 public policy approach against providing compassionate mental health care to individuals who must legally remain in custody. Both efforts can \u2013 and should \u2013 complement each other.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Regardless, I am relieved that the Board has finally taken a step toward acknowledging the need for locked mental health treatment beds. We have a moral and constitutional obligation to those in our jails.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The motion was also focused on achieving compliance with a federal court consent decree. The relevant provisions which the County must comply with are:<\/p>\n