More than 200 people have finished the program since its inception in 2019. About 96% of them have avoided further involvement in the justice system. More than 70% of eligible persons who enter the program are Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latino.
“That’s a big difference from what you usually see with conversion efforts. Usually, because of the restrictive rules around who are eligible for these programs, we see that people of color are left out and those who are seen in programs are mostly of whites in the th Judicial Innovation Center. The New York-based nonprofit provides tech support to Los Angeles County, where more than 700 people are currently enrolled in Rapid Diversion.
For the program, more universal eligibility makes access to treatment and social services more equitable and “can help mitigate the effects of years of excessive surveillance on communities of color,” says Taylor. The organization is also intentionally placing the program in cities with large Black and African American communities, where a history of lack of investment has led to a shortage of mental health services.
The center has partnered with Microsoft to support Los Angeles County’s ability to collect data on variances and other indicators.
“Many jurisdictions assume the data has been collected and then a year later they say, ‘We should look at the racial disparities. Oh, wait, we didn’t collect that information,’” said Chidinma Om, acting director of policy at the center. “Microsoft helped us focus and determine how we would collect it and how we would measure it.”
The artwork will help L.A. County guide its strategy and assess the systemic impact of the rapid conversion.
When participants complete the program, they are invited to share their thoughts at a final courtroom hearing. One woman, who fell asleep in her car, shared how she was able to find a job, move into an apartment, and reunite with her son thanks to Rapid Diversion. One man, who has struggled with mental illness and a substance use disorder since his teens, explained that he was able to receive treatment, find permanent housing, become a chef, and reconcile with his family through the program.
“I think about the generational effects of this work and how, if we can help one person and change their trajectory, it can have compounding effects on their families and communities,” Ohm says.
Community organizations interested in using data and technology to address the intersection of mental health and the criminal legal system are invited to apply Catalyst Scholarship Program.
TOP PHOTO: Kareem Osbourne (left) and Stacy Piper, Community Engagement Specialists at PAD (Photo via DV Photo)
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