I have been a proponent of the Jail County Diversion Model in Bexar County, Texas, ever since I visited San Antonio five years ago and met Leon Evans and Gilbert Gonzales. That model is now being recognized nationally as the gold standard for diverting persons with mental disorders into appropriate services rather than jails. Not only are persons in crisis getting meaningful help — taxpayers are saving money.
I was thrilled when I learned that Fairfax Sheriff Stacey Kincaid was taking a delegation of Fairfax officials to Bexar County to investigate how our community might implement parts of the Bexar County model. Reporter Julie Carey tagged along and in several three minute reports, she describes both the model and what it accomplishes.
Bexar County has published a step-by-step guide that explains how your community can implement its model. I would urge you to watch the videos and get the guide into the hands of your local leaders.
Kudos to Sheriff Kincaid for taking a delegation to San Antonio and to local NAMI advocate Joanna Walker for talking to reporter Carey about her family’s involvement with the criminal justice system.
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