Somerville Police Awarded Grant for Jail Diversion Programs

SOMERVILLE, MA – The Somerville Police Department is one of eight law enforcement agencies to receive a grant from the state dedicated to furthering Crisis Intervention Training and Jail Diversion Programs, the Department of Mental Health announced Monday.

The three-year service contracts fund education programs for law enforcement and first responders about recognizing individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis in order to help them receive treatment.

"These grants are an opportunity to strengthen our community support for individuals in the midst of a mental health crisis," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "I applaud the communities that have already undergone Crisis Intervention Training and those who are committed to improving the relationship between treatment providers and public safety officials."

Since 2008, the Department of Mental Health has awarded funding for 30 grants supporting the creation of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) networks law enforcement-based Jail Diversion Programs (JDP). There are now 67 municipalities in Massachusetts with CIT programs.

CIT and JDP programs are designed to provide immediate and effective intervention options for first responders with the aim of preventing the incarceration of those with mental health challenges.

"Too often, individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis find themselves in jail rather than treatment and this specialized Crisis Intervention Training is essential in reversing that pattern," said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Marylou Sudders in an announcement. "The Jail Diversion Program has expanded the tools law enforcement and community partners can use when approaching individuals in a crisis state, and more importantly has opened the lines of communication between mental health providers and local police departments."

In addition to Somerville, police departments in Brookline, Holyoke, Lynn, Winthrop, Salem, Pepperell and Tewksbury, as well as the Behavioral Health Network of Springfield, were all awarded three-year service contracts.

"We are grateful for the ability of continuing to grow our Jail Diversion Programs across the Commonwealth. These programs are vital to ensuring that our law enforcement personnel are properly trained when called to an active situation with an individual experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis," said DMH Commissioner Joan Mikula. "Our JDP programs potentially reduce physical harm, for both parties involved, promote an increased awareness of mental health conditions, and strengthen our relationships between treatment providers and public safety officers."

Image via Somerville Police Department