Scrapping the jail replacement contract would indicate a shift to fully embracing mental health treatment over incarceration.
The Board of Supervisors might cancel a $1.7-billion contract to replace the dungeon-like Men’s Central Jail downtown amid growing unease about whether Los Angeles County’s incarceration policy focuses enough attention on mental health treatment.
“The taxpayers, our residents and morality dictates that the goals of this project include addressing the mental and physical health needs of our jail population, many of whom can be safely diverted to community-based treatment facilities, before we move forward with building an expensive new jail at a size that is possibly unnecessary,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who coauthored the motion with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.
The same activists have long opposed the construction of any new jails, arguing that the billions of dollars devoted to a new facility would be better spent on reentry programs, supportive housing, community-based services and other alternatives. “People with mental illness come out of jail sicker and have increased rates of recidivism,” said Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel with the ACLU of Southern California.A separate motion by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Janice Hahn called on county leaders to compile a report on how to proceed.The motions come after internal reports from county mental health officials and the chief executive officer suggested that the current contract might not meet the county’s need for such a system.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Snap says it's raising $1 billion in convertible debtThe company, which owns the app Snapchat, says it plans to use the debt to fund stock repurchases and acquisitions.
Baca lebih lajut »
Cocaine worth $1.9m washes up on New Zealand beachPolice found 19 packages containing cocaine worth an estimated $1.9 million (New Zealand $3 million) on the isolated Bethells Beach, on Auckland's west coast -- and said there was a 'small chance' more packages could wash up there.
Baca lebih lajut »
Ray J Signs $1 Million Deal to Get People to Invest in Weed IndustryRay J signs $1 million deal to get people to invest in legal marijuana startups.
Baca lebih lajut »
Orange County, longtime GOP stronghold, now has more registered Democrats than RepublicansOrange County, which nurtured Ronald Reagan’s conservatism and is the resting place of Richard Nixon, is now home to 547,458 registered Democrats.
Baca lebih lajut »
Democrats now outnumber Republicans in Orange County, onetime GOP strongholdOrange County famously helped launch Ronald Reagan’s political career in the 1960s, and it’s also home to Richard Nixon’s presidential library.
Baca lebih lajut »
Once a GOP hotbed, Orange County now has more registered Democrats than RepublicansOrange County, California, a historically Republican stronghold that served as the North Star for Ronald Reagan-style conservatism, now has more voters registered as Democrats than Republicans.
Baca lebih lajut »