SACRAMENTO (CBS13) —
Sacramento’s County decision to cut a vital mental health tool five years ago
has put a significant strain on both law enforcement and hospitals, according
to a grand jury report released on Thursday.
The cost of treating patients
has weighed heavily on the county since the closure of its Crisis
Stabilization Unit in 2009, the report states. What was supposed to save the
county, the grand jury argues has instead overwhelmed both law enforcement
and local hospitals.
This isn’t the first time a
Sacramento County grand jury has pointed to these cuts as a negative for the
county. The 2010 grand jury report also found issues with the cuts and the
impact it was having on health and law enforcement services.
But in the years since those
cuts, the problem has only worsened. In 2014, the grand jury reports only 16
percent of patients at the intake stabilization unit were first-time
admissions, painting the picture of a revolving door of patients
with mental disorders.
The grand jury recommends the
county re-evaluates the cuts and considers using available grant
funds to establish in less costly systems that focus on treatment rather
than tying up law enforcement and community hospital resources.
The report also points to a
fractured relationship between hospitals and law enforcement after the cuts.
Both sides saw the closures as abrupt with little time to plan for the influx
of mental-health patients. Hospitals say emergency rooms weren’t prepared for
the onslaught of patients, calling the county’s actions “irresponsible” and
“non-responsive.”
June
25, 2015
CBS
Sacramento
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