Mentally ill offender crime reduction grants.

Existing law requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to administer mentally ill offender crime reduction grants on a competitive basis to counties that expand or establish a continuum of timely and effective responses to reduce crime and criminal justice costs related to mentally ill juvenile and adult offenders. Existing law requires an application for a mentally ill offender crime reduction grant to describe a 4-year plan for the programs, services, or strategies to be provided under the grant, and authorizes the funds from a mentally ill offender crime reduction grant to be used to fund specialized alternative custody programs that offer appropriate mental health and treatment services. This bill would additionally authorize the funds from a mentally ill offender crime reduction grant to be used to fund specialized diversion programs that offer appropriate mental health and treatment services.