Hudson County Prosecutor Accepting Applications For New Mental Health Diversion Program

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is accepting applications into Hudson County’s newly formed Mental Health Diversion Program. The Mental Health Diversion Program (MHDP) is designed to redirect individuals accused of certain crimes away from incarceration and into community-based treatment programs.

To participate in the voluntary program, individuals facing certain charges must submit an application with the HCPO indicating they suffer from a mental health condition. The application will be reviewed by a member of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from a mental health professional, to determine an individual’s eligibility. Once accepted into the program, the individual will receive counseling, referrals, and other individualized treatment plans that help deter further criminal actions.

“Promoting public safety is at the forefront of what we do at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and we cannot fully deter crime if we are not addressing the very issues that lead an individual to offend,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello. “The Mental Health Diversion Program is a new opportunity to connect individuals with treatment and other community-based resources that aim to reduce recidivism. This will be an invaluable program for Hudson County, and I appreciate our partners who have helped make this possible.”

The MHDP utilizes a multidisciplinary approach and was created by the HCPO in collaboration with the County of Hudson, the Superior Court of New Jersey – Hudson Vicinage, the Office of the Public Defender for Hudson County, and the private defense bar.

“Through this partnership, we can establish earlier interventions so that individuals with mental health issues are connected with the help and services they need to reduce the potential for future involvement in the justice system,” said the Honorable David Katz, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson Vicinage.

Hudson County’s MHDP was created with grant funding from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

“In New Jersey, we are taking innovative steps to build safer communities. Hudson County’s commendable efforts are changing lives,” said Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General is proud to support Prosecutor-led Diversion Programs across the state as we recognize that treatment often leads to better long-term health and safety outcomes for individuals and communities.”

“The Office of Alternative and Community Responses is honored to work with prosecutors around the state to find clinically focused alternatives to incarceration, when appropriate, for individuals whose crimes were committed as a result of a mental illness,” said Tiffany Wilson, Director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses. “Mental health diversion programs play a significant role in public safety, reducing recidivism, and leading to safer communities.”

The grant will fund evaluations by licensed mental health professionals, individual treatment plans, and various services offered through the County of Hudson.

“I and the Board of County Commissioners have long advocated for the creation of a Mental Health Diversion Program, and I am excited to see it come to fruition in Hudson County,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “Too often, individuals struggling with mental health challenges enter the legal system without receiving the care and support they need. This Mental Health Diversion Program gives us the opportunity to take a more comprehensive, humane approach to criminal justice that addresses the underlying needs of individuals while safeguarding our communities. This is about recognizing that public safety, equity, and compassionate care can, and should, function together.”

Copies of the application and more information about the program can be found at https://hcpo.org/mental-health-diversion-program.