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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is partnering with several city police departments to institute a pilot program to redirect qualified individuals accused of low-level criminal conduct away from the criminal justice system and into behavioral or mental health support systems instead, DA Nancy O’Malley announced last week.
The program, new to Alameda County but commonly referred to as the “3-D Program,” is launching with the Oakland, Fremont, San Leandro and Hayward police departments, but O’Malley said she expects it will eventually expand to all law enforcement agencies in the county.
“This groundbreaking approach to addressing the needs of an individual in crisis coupled with concern and attention to public safety will become a model for a criminal justice reform,” O’Malley’s office said in a statement.
“The District Attorney’s Office will provide a dedicated (deputy district attorney) with knowledge of substance abuse and mental health diagnosis and treatment. This DDA will collaborate with the treatment team to develop the best plan to both meet the needs of the client and protect public safety,” the statement added.
Under the program, when police contact a person who is suspected of committing a low-level offense but also displaying signs of mental health or substance use struggles, they will be offered the option of transportation to the Community Assessment, Referral and Engagement Services (CARES) Navigation Center rather than jail.
At the navigation center, they will meet with a peer support specialist and receive an assessment from a skilled clinician. The peer support specialist will have been certified through a training program sponsored by the DA’s office.
“The Peer Support Specialists are individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system who have gone through an intensive training program that covers issues including effective support, mental health and substance abuse interventions as well as skill building to serve in a peer-to-peer support position,” the DA’s office said.
The process would involve a navigation team with a mental health DDA, a peer support specialist and a mental health clinician who will meet and confer with the person regarding an appropriate course of action and risk reduction plan.
“The level of supervision and engagement will include consideration of both the severity of illness as well as the severity of the client’s conduct,” the DA’s office said.
O’Malley’s office is contracting with La Familia Counseling Service, which provides quality outpatient mental health and substance abuse services as well as education and employment services, to serve as the program partner and treatment provider.
“La Familia has been a strong partner with my office in our many efforts to move people away from crime by addressing the underlying needs and issues individuals have that led them into the criminal justice system,” O’Malley said.
Her office has partnered with La Familia and its executive director, Aaron Ortiz, on other innovative programs aimed at changing the trajectory of those in the criminal justice system and reducing recidivism — programs such as the Alameda County Justice Restoration Program.
“Crisis management and assessment of the root cause of the client’s criminal justice contacts will be key to the working of the program,” the DA’s office said. “The clinical staff will assess current clinical stability. La Familia will make every effort to connect the client to an appropriate level of service to meet the treatment needs of the client and/or re-connect the client to pre-existing services.
“La Familia will also provide follow up contact with the client after they leave to ensure the client is actually connected to services,” officials added.
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