Diversion Resources

One of the best ways to keep people with behavioral health challenges out of the criminal court system is to get them the help and resources they need before a crime is committed.

One avenue for this is diversion programs. DSHS and the Health Care Authority, through the DSHS vs. Trueblood lawsuit, have created several programs to divert people away from the criminal court system so they can get the care they need when they need it.

These include:

  • Crisis triage and stabilization facilities.
  • Co-responder programs that pair behavioral health professionals with police officers for calls related to behavioral health.
  • Crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers.
  • Certified peer counselors.
  • Diversion navigators.
  • Prosecutorial Diversion Programs.

Prosecutorial Diversion One Pager

Ideally, diversion happens before a crime is committed, but when that is not the case, behavioral health professionals and law enforcement can use the Sequential Intercept Model to keep people with behavioral health needs out of jail

The Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration offers two diversion programs for people who have been arrested and whose competency is being questioned.

For more information about DSHS diversion efforts, contact BHHA Liaison and Diversion Specialist Jason Karpen at jason.karpen@dshs.wa.gov or the Diversion Navigator Program at dshsbha.DiversionNavigators@dshs.wa.gov.

Diversion resources in Washington