WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — Officials in suburban Lake County are pushing to train local police officers to help reduce the number of repeat criminal offenders among those with mental illness.
The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports the county board is expected to set aside $35,000 for a police training program at the College of Lake County.
The county has also received a $1 million substance abuse and mental health grant to focus on early police intervention to stem recidivism among mentally ill offenders.
County board member Sandra Hart says the county health department is seeking a location for a 24-hour crisis intervention center where officers could consult with health professionals.
Officials say that 40 percent of county jail inmates in February were on psychotropic medication to treat various mental health issues.
