Jail Diversion Numbers Show Positive Results

Through a federal grant and partnership with the City of St. Louis, the Jail Diversion program at Community Alternatives seeks divert individuals from incarceration by linking them to appropriate mental health and substance abuse services.  

In February, new data was released covering the program to date.

For 124 clients, the following changes were evident after six months when compared with intake into the program:

• 94% abstained from illegal drugs, up from 58%.
• 73.5% abstained from alcohol, up from 44%.
• 51% had a positive opinion of their ability to function, up from 23%.
• 88% had no arrests in the 30 days prior, up from 10%.
• 40% had stable housing, up from 28%.
• 64% were engaged in outpatient mental health services, up from 10%.

Total days in jail dropped from 992 (for 97 participants) to 317 for the year before and after enrollment in the program.  Before enrollment, these 97 participants had 205 arrests in twelve months.  For the 12 months after enrollment, there were only 67 arrests.  

Of clients discharged from the program, 62% were discharged for successful completion.

Jail Diversion successfully diverts those with mental health and substance abuse problems from incarceration, while helping them reduce substance abuse, remain out of jail, and successfully engage appropriate mental health services, while reducing the factors that lead to homelessness.

Through Jail Diversion, we successfully reduce the burden of overcrowded jails and legal costs to the city of St. Louis, while ending the cycle of incarceration and crisis and helping our neighbors receive the attention and care they need to help them live independently and responsibly.