A religious organization is urging Vanderburgh County leaders to invest in a Jail Diversion facility. WNIN’s John Gibson reports:
Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment – or CAJE – says the over-crowded county jail is routinely used to warehouse individuals that suffer from mental and/or substance-abuse issues.
In a release, CAJE says many of them face no felony charge or conviction, and are not violent.
The group is urging the county to use one percent of available federal funding to pay for a crisis care/diversion center at United Caring Services in Evansville.
CAJE notes county commissioners and some county council members committed to such a facility a year ago.
The group has sent a letter to local leaders, urging them not to kick the can down the road.