Los Angeles County

Staff working in the LA County Courthouse

Los Angeles is home to the largest jail population in the United States. The Center helps L.A. County advance supportive services to promote safe and equitable alternatives to incarceration.

Of the nearly 15,000 people in the Los Angeles County jail on any given day, roughly one in three has a mental health need. Over the last few years, L.A. County policymakers and local communities have been rethinking the use of jails and promoting safe and appropriate alternatives to incarceration. The Center supports these efforts by helping L.A. implement its “Care First, Jail Last” approach and center racial equity through evidence-informed, collaborative programming.

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Our Impact

  • 96% of graduates have had no further contact with the criminal justice system

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  • 1,300 clinical assessments completed in the Rapid Diversion Program

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  • 450 cases have been diverted in the Rapid Diversion Program

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LA County Courthouse
This case was a wake up call to take my symptoms seriously and to take my medication. Whenever I feel weak I have people I can reach out to. I’m very thankful for them. I now have healthier habits and I feel optimistic.
A 2021 Rapid Diversion Program (RDP) Graduate

Publications & Digital Media

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News

  • L.A. criminal court program diverts mentally ill offenders from prosecution

    May 26, 2023
    Los Angeles Times

    Los Angeles County’s jails house a staggering number of people with mental illnesses, where these conditions go untreated and can even get worse. Under the county’s Rapid Diversion Program, operated in partnership with the Center, more than 1,500 people have been given the chance to receive treatment in their communities instead. So far, 350 people have graduated from the program to see their charges reduced or dropped.

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