Safe and Healthy Task Force issues roadmap to reform behavioral health and criminal justice systems

An agency official said the Safe and Healthy Task Force has shared a roadmap of recommendations aimed at reducing the number of people cycling through hospitals, jails and courtrooms.

"We've known for years our systems aren't working. We have too many people in crisis and cycling through hospitals and jails and courtrooms," the agency official said, urging residents to read the Task Force report and send feedback to local leaders.

The official described the Task Force as a group of diverse participants that spent nine months examining the county's behavioral health and criminal justice systems and compiling proposals intended to improve community health and safety. The speaker framed the roadmap as a starting point for investment and coordinated action across services and agencies.

The official linked the Task Force work to broader county priorities such as affordable housing and said local leaders will weigh the recommendations as they consider policy and funding decisions. No formal actions, motions or votes were recorded in the provided remarks; the speaker asked the public to review the report and comment.