Reducing Recidivism In March 2025

Badges and Behavior Look At the Top Jail Diversion Initiatives and more heading into March 2025!

March 05, 2025

Welcome to the seventh issue of Badges and Behavioral Health! This edition highlights the critical role of jail diversion in reshaping communities and reducing incarceration. How can we reduce recidivism and rehabilitate low-level offenders? Please read on to find out how leading counties are addressing this challenge.

While jail diversion takes center stage, we also explore other important topics, including innovative approaches and new initiatives in the field. We hope you find the content informative and thought-provoking. Let’s dive in!

Today’s Brief:

  1. Oklahoma County’s Behavioral Care Center (3-minute read)

  2. Davenport Police & Vera French Clinic Co-Responder Program (1-minute read)

  3. Montgomery County Program For First-Time Non-Violent Defendants (3-minute watch)

  4. Bonus Brief (3-minute read)

Oklahoma County is making strides towards decriminalizing mental illness with the groundbreaking of a new Behavioral Care Center. The center, separate from the new jail, will provide mental health treatment to individuals to reduce recidivism. Modeled after a successful facility in Nashville, the center aims to divert individuals from incarceration and prepare them for release. The project, in development for nearly two decades, is seen as a significant step in improving Oklahoma County's criminal justice system. With the completion of the new Oklahoma County Detention Center and Behavioral Care Center, the county is on track to become a national leader in mental health treatment within the justice system.

A partnership between Davenport Police Department and Vera French Clinic is proving successful in assisting individuals with mental health crises. The co-responder team, which pairs police and clinic staff on 911 calls involving mental health, has responded to nearly 850 calls since its inception last year. Program leaders are pleased to report that less than five percent of these calls have resulted in arrests, indicating that individuals are receiving the necessary help instead of being sent to jail. This collaborative approach ensures that individuals in crisis receive the appropriate resources and support they need.

In Partnership with:

JULOTA

Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is offering a program to assist first-time non-violent defendants. The City of Prattville is hosting a black history program featuring Latricia Gardner and Mynecia Steele. Mayor Tony Haygood and Tierney Macon discuss upcoming events in the City of Tuskegee. Monica Rodgers and Kristin Roy emphasize the importance of recognizing signs of child abuse in "Mondays with the DA." Cathy Shuford and DaVeda Massey share details about the Mardi Gras block party in the City of Montgomery. The Montgomery Ballet, led by Artistic-Executive Director Danny Mitsios, is hosting Mardi Gras events. Additionally, a new dish, the Chicken Pesto Bowl, is being highlighted in the latest "Let's Dish it Up" segment.Bonus Brief

Mayor Cherelle Parker has signed an executive order to offer summary offenses to drug offenders in a new Wellness Court. This initiative is aimed at tackling the opioid crisis in Kensington.👮‍♀️🏛️

Thanks for reading. We hope you learned a lot and look forward to bringing you more insights in our next issue.

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