California Mental Health Diversion: Statutes, Eligibility & Court Programs
In California, the primary authority for keeping people with mental illness out of jail is Cal. Penal Code § 1001.36 (Pretrial mental health diversion). Mental health diversion, mental health court programs, and other diversionary court programs can pause prosecution while a person completes treatment — and may lead to dismissal of criminal charges.
Statute for mental health diversion in California
- Cal. Penal Code § 1001.36 — Pretrial mental health diversion
- Cal. Penal Code § 1001.35
- Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 5970 et seq. (CARE Court)
Citations pending attorney review. Always confirm current code sections.
Mental health diversion in major California cities
California county mental health diversion guides (58)
Alameda CountyAlpine CountyAmador CountyButte CountyCalaveras CountyColusa CountyContra Costa CountyDel Norte CountyEl Dorado CountyFresno CountyGlenn CountyHumboldt CountyImperial CountyInyo CountyKern CountyKings CountyLake CountyLassen CountyLos Angeles CountyMadera CountyMarin CountyMariposa CountyMendocino CountyMerced CountyModoc CountyMono CountyMonterey CountyNapa CountyNevada CountyOrange CountyPlacer CountyPlumas CountyRiverside CountySacramento CountySan Benito CountySan Bernardino CountySan Diego CountySan Francisco CountySan Joaquin CountySan Luis Obispo CountySan Mateo CountySanta Barbara CountySanta Clara CountySanta Cruz CountyShasta CountySierra CountySiskiyou CountySolano CountySonoma CountyStanislaus CountySutter CountyTehama CountyTrinity CountyTulare CountyTuolumne CountyVentura CountyYolo CountyYuba County