County jails: veterans.

Existing law authorizes county jails to be used for specified purposes, including the detention of persons charged with crimes and committed for trial. Existing law authorizes a court to place defendants who are current or former members of the United States military and suffering from specified conditions in a pretrial diversion program. This bill would require county jails to, upon detention of a person, ask if the person has served in the United States military and document the person's response. The bill would additionally require that the county jail make this information available to the person, his or her counsel, and the district attorney. By increasing the duties of county jails, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.