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7i <br /> � ��LGyi <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII -•���' % STATE OF HAWAII <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 268 15 <br /> A RESOLUTION ENLISTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAII IN THE STEPPING UP <br /> INITIATIVE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF JAILED PERSONS WITH MENTAL <br /> ILLNESSES. <br /> WHEREAS, the Hawai`i Island Going Home Consortium is a formally organized effort <br /> among more than 50 public and private entities working together on Hawai`i Island to help <br /> reintegrate former criminal offenders into the community and the workplace; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Hawai`i Island Going Home Consortium supports the nationwide <br /> Stepping Up Initiative to reduce the number of incarcerated persons with mental illnesses; and <br /> WHEREAS, the State of Hawai`i Department of Public Safety operates correctional <br /> facilities in Hawai`i County, but in 44 states nationwide the counties routinely provide treatment <br /> services to the estimated two million people with serious mental illnesses booked into jail each <br /> year; and <br /> WHEREAS, the State of Hawai`i Department of Health provides services to improve the <br /> mental health of Hawai`i's people by reducing the prevalence of emotional disorders and mental <br /> illnesses with services that include mental health education, treatment and rehabilitation through <br /> community-based mental health centers; and <br /> WHEREAS, the prevalence of persons with serious mental illnesses in jails are three to <br /> six times higher than in the general public; almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental <br /> illnesses in jails have co-occurring substance use disorders; and a significant proportion of adults <br /> with mental illnesses in jails are chronically homeless; and <br /> WHEREAS, adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and upon release are <br /> at a higher risk of recidivism than people without these disorders; and <br /> WHEREAS, incarceration costs two to three times more for adults with mental illnesses <br /> that require interventions compared to those without these treatment needs; and <br /> WHEREAS, without the appropriate treatment and services, people with mental illnesses <br /> continue to cycle through the criminal justice system, often resulting in tragic outcomes for these <br /> individuals and their families; and <br /> WHEREAS, the continuous cycling of people with mental illnesses between jail and the <br /> community strains county resources for law enforcement, first responders, and social services; <br /> and <br />