In Muskingum County, a new approach to mental health crises is reshaping interactions between law enforcement and community members. The prosecutor's diversion program, DART, has taken an active role in equipping officers with the necessary skills to appropriately respond to these emergencies. A Crisis Intervention Training, led by a coalition that includes the Muskingum Area Mental Health and Recovery Board, Allwell, and several local sheriff's offices and police departments, recently occurred, offering a week-long curriculum designed to educate participants on the complexity of mental health issues.
In an effort to fully come to integrate these resources, Kasi Stewart, LPCC-S, the diversion coordinator for DART, contributed her expertise to the event. She laid out the pre-arrest diversion program by detailing its objectives and methods. Her sessions aimed to seamlessly bridge the gap between law enforcement's immediate response and the long-term care provided by mental health services. Law enforcement was trained on how to not only manage crises but also to reach out proactively for referrals to support services, as reported by the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office.
The impact of DART's work has not gone unnoticed in the Muskingum community. Since its inception in the previous year, it has actively involved 47 participants, with an average of 12 months spent in the program. Of these, 25 have successfully had their charges diverted, avoiding the often detrimental effects of the criminal justice system on their lives and well-being. As of now, 12 participants are still engaged with the services provided, working towards better outcomes for themselves and society at large.
"My office’s success rate in diverting charges and keeping individuals from entering or re-entering the criminal justice system is over 70%," Prosecutor Ron Welch stated. This figure illustrates the effectiveness of the program, a testament to the hard work put in by both the staff and the individuals seeking to make a change in their lives. This commitment was recognized when Welch added, as highlighted in the official statement, "This success rate is outstanding and shows what an outstanding job Kasi has done. Credit must also be given to the individuals in the program who have taken advantage of available resources to make positive changes in their lives."
The collaboration and results from this initiative reflect an evolving approach to law enforcement and mental health crises—one that prioritizes understanding, rehabilitation, and prevention. As the DART program continues to develop, its impacts on the community are likely to expand, potentially serving as a model for integrating mental health awareness within the fabric of public safety measures.
