Judge Leifman, Miami-Dade, discusses efforts to reduce incarceration of mentally ill

For background:

Congressional leaders committed to improving mental health services and public safety joined the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center on Dec. 9, 2014 for a briefing on the new wave of national efforts to reduce the overwhelming number of people with mental disorders cycling through U.S. jails." Watch the video: http://csgjusticecenter.org/mental-health/posts/law-enforcement-health-advocates-and-members-of-congress-push-to-reduce-the-number-of-people-with-mental-illness-in-jails/

The National Association of Counties Executive Director reports that the 3069 counties across the Country - with a 500 billion dollar/yr budget - each year spend over 70 billion dollars on justice and public safety and 70 billion dollars on healthcare for citizens - often times, healthcare in Americas jails.
About 8 1/2 million people a year become inmates in jails and there are about 11 1/2 million visits - indicating that large numbers of people are paying more than one visit.

A polling of their members to ask what percentage of people in jails had severe mental illness resulted in 25% saying they estimated over 60% of people currently in their jails met that criteria.

Judge Leifman from Miami-Dade County discusses his efforts to successful reduce incarceration on a recent National Association of Counties "Step Up Together" webinar - https://stepuptogether.org/ - and why Orleans Parish should be taking notes! http://csgjusticecenter.org/mental-health/media-clips/miami-dade-joins-program-to-stop-jailing-mentally-ill/

Judge Leifman's proposal to reuse an abandoned Psychiatric Hospital as a one stop shop diversionary facility is under way.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2319144.html

A great way New Orleans can also "Step Up" would be to readapt Charity Hospital as a one stop shop for behavioral health and neurological research to anchor the biodistrict, transitional affordable housing, longterm inpatient psych care and diversionary programs, as well as using a component of the Building to house a consortium of organizations that would all work together on systemic challenges of mental illness, homelessness, workforce development, stigma, etc. to drive policy. 1 million square feet is too small!!! http://savecharityhospital.com/content/adaptive-reuse-proposal-synopsis-charity-hospital

Like what is already happening in Baton Rouge, spearheaded by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Universities, members of the community who are impacted, Judges, The DA, The Sheriff, The Mayor, Dept. of Corrections, The Coroner, physical and mental health providers and policy makers and others need to come together now to implement meaningful reforms.
The Miami model is the first of it's kind in the nation.
http://www.miamidade.gov/district04/advisories/2015-05-05-crisis-mental-illness-jails.asp

Monday June 22 - 5-7PM meeting to discuss New Orleans Mental Healthcare Crisis. Share your stories and ideas. Help explore alternatives to incarceration, homelessness and death. Norman Mayer Branch Library 3001 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans. Contact HealingMindsNola [at] gmail.com for more information.