Long Beach was just awarded a combined $9.5 million in grants to expand programs that help people with mental health and substance problems and divert people from the criminal justice system.
In a news release Friday, the city’s Department of Health and Human Services said it was given $8 million by the California Board of State and Community Corrections. Another $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Justice went to the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s office and Police Department.
The $8 million in state funding will be used to create a Long Beach Re-entry Service and Diversion Program. This will connect community nonprofits to nonviolent former convicts dealing with poor mental health or addiction.
People in the program can be offered things like therapy, employment assistance, legal support and drug treatment. Specific programs will also be tailored toward women and youth ages 15 to 24.
This should translate into lower rates of recidivism, said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, while addressing “gaps for re-entry services” in a humane manner.