The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has released a video providing an overview of its recently established Jail-Based Mental Health Unit (JBMHU), which focuses on addressing serious mental health needs among people within the criminal justice system.
The JBMHU offers treatment for inmates who have been found incompetent by the courts or are transitioning from Lake’s Crossing, Nevada’s forensic psychiatric hospital.
The program is designed to reduce incarceration time and support stabilization through direct mental health services.
Its first year of operation was funded by a sub-grant from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, administered through Lake’s Crossing.
The unit works in partnership with mental health professionals and community organizations to deliver services such as competency restoration and mental health assessments.
The program’s objectives include reducing repeated detention, lowering the strain on public systems, and supporting long-term outcomes for people.
“This is a focused mental health program designed to serve a highly acute population—individuals who frequently cycle through our facility, local hospitals, or end up on our streets,” said Sheriff Darin Balaam. “Our goal is to prioritize their care, support efforts towards stabilization, and strengthen training across our office so our staff are better equipped to respond to the complex mental health needs we encounter every day.”
The video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the unit’s operations, including interviews with staff and an overview of the program’s framework and implementation.
Watch the full video below:Â
