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County Sees Worth In Jail Diversion

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By CARL ORTH

corth@suncoastnews.com

Published: November 9, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Despite tight budgets, county commissioners recently decided to pay $198,000 to extend a program another year to help mentally ill people who might otherwise wind up in jails.

"This is a hand up, not a handout," public defender Bob Dillinger told commissioners in October. The $198,000 budget is the same as last year.

"As the economy tanks more and more," Dillinger said, "more people wind up in jail. They're coming out of jail dead broke."

The jail diversion program for mentally ill people provides housing, medicine, transportation and counseling to participants, Dillinger said. Jobs are found for many of them.

The cost is about $600 to $800 a month for meals, housing and services for each participant at transitional homes. Jails might spend about $80 a day per inmate, or more than $2,400 a month.

Pasco and Pinellas counties have been getting national recognition for results, Dillinger said.

Among the 2,000 people assisted the past four years, arrests plummeted by 89 percent.

"Work builds self-worth, self-esteem," Dillinger said. Within three months, people at transitional homes often are ready to move on.

The diversion program has run into a snag, though, because many of the participants lack an identification card. Immigration rules prevent people without proper ID from getting jobs.

A technicality had prevented diversion program officials from spending about $10 to help each person obtain an ID, but the county has removed the restriction.

Commissioner Jack Mariano acknowledged Dillinger's "passion" for the program. Mariano asked whether free public transportation could be provided.

"Transportation is a huge obstacle" for program participants, Dillinger said. Some bus passes are in the budget, And volunteers also help drive participants to appointments.

Reporter Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068.

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