South Dakota Pilot Giving Law Enforcement Virtual Mental Health Support Diverted 81% Of Cases From Incarceration

A South Dakota pilot program that provided law enforcement with 24/7 virtual access to behavioral health professionals diverted 81% of people in a behavioral health crisis from incarceration. The program is called Virtual Crisis Care. The pilot took place in 23 counties from January 2020 through June 2021. During that period, law enforcement contacted Virtual Crisis Care 185 times. The highest usage was between September 2020 through April 2021. The pilot involved law enforcement and probation. In 15 counties, the pilot took place only with law enforcement: Beadle, Brookings, Campbell, Clay, Codington, Custer, Davison, Day, Faulk, Jerauld, Lyman, McPherson . . .