A package of legislation designed to address mental health issues in criminal justice has been presented to the legislature in Pierre. House Bill 1183 is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.
Chief Justice David Gilbertson has led the effort to reduce recidivism and increase services to mentally ill people who often end up in jail.
In Rapid City, Mayor Steve Allender has tackled the lack of services for the city's mentally ill population. The former chief of police says in many cases mental illness is an underlying cause of homelessness, and that condition won't change without diagnosis and treatment.
SDPB has been taking an extended look at these issues, and in this segment, Victoria Wicks checks in with Steve Allender.
