The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously approved a motion calling for development of an action plan to pull “repeat users” out of the King County criminal justice system and get them into the treatment programs they need.

“People who commit crimes because of their mental disorders are often locked in jail where their conditions worsen, as opposed to receiving the treatment they need to lead law-abiding, healthy and productive lives,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, chair of the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee. “This is a commitment to end the King County Jail’s reign as the second largest mental health facility in Washington State.”

“This plan sets up a framework for developing a comprehensive system to provide care and stability for those who need treatment, and to interrupt the cycle of shuttling from the streets to emergency services,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, vice-chair of the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee and co-sponsor of the legislation. “The most compassionate and cost-effective response is to provide the programs and resources that will allow those facing the biggest challenges to become productive members of the community. Addiction is such a terrible waste of the potential of these people. Our jail should no longer be the second-largest mental health facility in our state.”

The Action Plan seeks to reduce unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system by those “chronic customers.” The motion directs the Executive, the King County Sheriff, the Superior and District Courts, the County Prosecutor and the Public Defender to develop the plan, with a focus on implementing a wide range of treatment, housing and case management services. The Action Plan concentrates on providing easy access to services and to integrate services. For example, a homeless person with mental health issues could find housing assistance and counseling options in one stop.

“We have achieved a ‘paradigm shift’ when it comes to criminal justice, now it’s time to take that next step,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “The Adult and Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plans created alternatives to incarceration for individuals who need treatment more than jail. The next step is to create a plan to stop the criminal justice treadmill that too many people with chronic conditions find themselves on.”

The Action Plan will be developed in three stages, with a report on the implementation of the first phase being submitted to the Council for review by September 1, 2006. The steps are:

• To develop a plan for an integrated continuum of services using existing resources.
• To recommend changes in criminal case processing to better direct people with mental illness and chemical dependency, and to provide appropriate service and housing options.
• To recommend actions to bring all items identified above to full scale to meet existing needs as well as a proposal for financing improvements. This will likely involve discussion of a possible sales tax increase of .1%.

“It’s time to start looking for more humane, effective ways to assist the incarcerated mentally ill, because in the long run, treatment is less expensive than a jail cell,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson. “The King County Jail is not a facility designed to treat mental illness. We need a plan that does just that.”

“Too many people with mental health issues and other chronic conditions are faced with a stark choice: sleeping under a bridge or jail. It’s time to offer something better than the hard ground or a jail cell,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “We are facing an enormous challenge, and finding solutions must involve all aspects of the criminal justice system. Today’s action will start that process.”

“The King County Jail must focus on locking up dangerous offenders, not on housing those who pose a greater threat to themselves than others,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine. “We must stop the revolving door at the jail by diverting these individuals, and the enormous sums used to incarcerate them, into programs that help restore them as full members of the community."