Kentucky Weighs Alternatives for Offenders with Mental Health Issues
Kentucky lawmakers have passed a bill to create pilot programs offering access to mental health care for low-level offenders, even allowing conditional release.
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Kentucky lawmakers in the state’s General Assembly recently passed a bill this session to provide alternative sentences for those suffering from some mental health disorders, reports FOX65. Senate Bill 90 will create pilot programs offering access to mental health care for low-level offenders, even allowing conditional release, in the hopes the program can expand statewide. The law calls for at least 10 behavioral health conditional release pilot programs. Those who’d qualify cannot have a charge higher than a class D felony, and they must be considered a low risk to the public and a low risk for flight. No DUI or violent offenses will be considered. Legal and law enforcement stakeholders say the program could help repeat offenders avoid going back in the system.
