Mental health workers in Los Angeles jails are better positioned to help prisoners transition into the community than they were before realignment, said Francesca Anello, with the Los Angeles County Mental Health Department, in a KPCC interview.
“We have a team that actually follows people for 30 days in the community to make sure all the supports are in place, so it’s kind of like a warm handoff so that they don’t get re-incarcerated,” Anello said.
Receiving services close to home helps prisoners retain ties to their communities and families, a core philosophy behind realignment.
In recent years, California counties have been hit by budget cuts to mental health services. But with the passage of Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s
tax initiative, funding for these services and other features of realignment
are guaranteed.
