KPBS Midday Edition

Most Mentally Ill Defendants Not Diverted To Treatment In San Diego County

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Pat Finn / Producer

Published August 1, 2019 at 11:15 AM PDT

This story was published more than 4 years ago.

The San Diego Central Jail on Front Street, August 7, 2018.

Most Mentally Ill Defendants Not Diverted To Treatment In SD County

Mentally ill defendants convicted of non-violent offenses are seldom diverted into treatment in San Diego County, as a new state law allows.

One year ago, the California Legislature passed a law allowing mentally ill defendants facing criminal charges to be diverted into treatment, rather than jail.

In San Diego County, just 20 of the 80 defendants who have requested diversion have been granted that option. The San Diego County District Attorney's office has opposed nearly every request for diversion, according to a story in The San Diego Union-Tribune by reporter Greg Moran.

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San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has announced her own plan to deal with mentally ill defendants. The Blueprint for Mental Health Reform, announced in May of this year, calls for a working group of prosecutors, law enforcement and health care professionals to create diversion programs that "...protect our victims and communities, while providing equal and fair access to diversion for those charged with crimes.”

KPBS Midday Edition

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Pat Finn

Pat Finn previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and KPBS Evening Edition. Finn began her career in broadcasting at KTLA and KCET in Los Angeles. In 1979 she became KPBS’ Public Information Director, then Director of Advertising and Promotion, Program Director, and Director of Broadcasting. She oversaw the station’s local and national productions, including the one-hour documentary Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar, and Child Protective Services, a one-hour look inside the San Diego County agency responsible for the welfare of at risk children. Both programs also aired on public television stations nationwide. Finn has earned honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

See stories by Pat Finn