County District Attorney Jackie Lacey last week unveiled a plan that would divert non-violent mentally-ill offenders from the Los Angeles County Jail to mental health and substance-abuse treatment facilities. 

HASC Regional Vice President Jaime Garcia, who represents the Los Angeles County area, attended the Aug. 4 board of supervisors session.

“HASC believes that a well-funded, robust outpatient treatment program that includes housing is required in order to effectively address the issue of homelessness,” Garcia said. 

To reduce unnecessary incarcerations, the plan offers 10 recommendations that will require long-term investments.     One component is de-escalation training for county sheriff’s deputies and other law-enforcement officers. Other recommendations include sobering centers, expanded residential drug treatment and timely referral to mental health treatment.

While the county already intended to establish three new urgent care centers with state grant dollars, plans for a fourth mental-health urgent care center in the Long Beach area were unveiled at the meeting. The other three sites include Antelope Valley, South Bay region and San Gabriel Valley.  

The plan acknowledges that significant investments in supportive housing programs for mentally ill individuals must be made.