UCLA

Los Angeles Countys Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) has removed over 3800 people from the largest jail system in the country. Across various diversion programs, ODRs fundamental goal is to provide permanent, lifetime care for each diverted person. This article describes ODRs various diversion programs, and elucidates the types of elaborate clinical and court-related interventions that are necessary to remove persons with serious mental disorders from jail custody. As Los Angeles continues to build the necessary community-based continuum of mental health care, ODRs model proves that thoughtfully removing persons with serious mental disorders from jail is possible and necessary for the health of both patients and community.