New Boone County council to address mental health in prison system
- thompson4boone
- Feb 7, 2024
- 1 min read
“We can’t say just because you have a mental health issue or substance issue it’s a free right, its not,” Thompson said. “If you’re creating an issue of public safety, then there’s going to be times and places where people end up in our jail.”On a state scale, the Missouri Association of Counties created a steering committee for policing, justice and mental health, which Thompson is also a part of.The association is currently working on instituting reentry navigators. Thompson describes the reentry navigators as people, most likely peers, connecting recently released inmates with resources aimed at preventing recidivism.“That’s something that we need to have on the local level as well, to have a plan for reentry,” Thompson said. “So that we’re not just creating and supporting a revolving door in our jails.”
