KINGSTON – With the bipartisan support of policy legislation to create a Crisis Stabilization Center and Respite Centers for individuals facing mental health or substance abuse crises, reforms recommended by the Ulster County Criminal Justice Reform Task Force have now all been enacted or included in the 2022 Ulster County budget.
“We were fortunate to engage a diverse and community minded group of individuals to serve on this task force. Putting these recommendations in place so promptly is a testament to the genuine desire of each task force participant to build practical solution, policies, and safety nets for our most vulnerable populations,” said Legislator Eve Walter, task force chairwoman. “We did not agree on everything but together we found common goals that allow us to move forward, creating pathways toward solutions that will continue to grow and evolve.”
In addition to enhancing the county’s response to mental health and substance abuse, the reforms include developing a jail re-entry program, developing a helpline for individuals experiencing discrimination in the criminal justice system, and requiring restorative justice trainings for all county employees who work with victims or the accused.
Based on the task force recommendations, several new positions have been added to the 2022 budget including a crisis intervention manager to enhance crisis and de-escalation training for law enforcement as well as a professional standards division to independently investigate complaints issued against members of county law enforcement.
“This is a framework to address the immediate critical need for crisis intervention and develop a foundation to evaluate services, engage the public, and ensure Ulster County programs continue to address social justice issues within the community,” said Walter.
