Many, many thanks to Diana Hefley and The Herald for highlighting the efforts of the Snohomish County Public Defenders Association, the Sheriff’s Office, the county prosecutor, Disability Rights-Washington and Sunrise Services in their wonderful collaborative work toward reducing the negative impacts of incarceration of those living with a mental illness (“State racks up millions in fines as inmates wait for treatment,” The Herald, May 21).
I would have really liked to have seen those efforts and future planned programs directed toward pre-booking diversion — keeping those living with mental illness, chemical dependency or more often both, out of the law, justice and corrections continuum altogether; these same good people with coordinated support from our County Law and Justice Council can make this happen.
In brief: People living with these illnesses do not belong in the criminal justice system but in services and programs that will help them immediately and in the long term in their recovery efforts and in rejoining their communities in a positive and contributing manner.
Jim Bloss
Monroe
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