California jail set to debut $61M mental health unit

A mental health unit to treat and house inmates with serious mental illnesses is set to open at Ventura County’s Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula, Calif., the Ventura County Star reported April 9.

Advertisement

The $61 million, 64-bed Health & Programming Unit has been in the works for more than a decade. Funding and political issues, the pandemic and permit delays slowed construction, according to the Star. The unit will house a medical department, programs to rehabilitate people found incompetent to stand trial and a therapy program for inmates with serious mental disorders.

Tim Ragan, a Ventura County sheriff’s captain who will run the unit, told the Star that the mental health unit will offer care for the inmates “from A to Z,” with the exception of those needing hospital care.

Three mental health programs at the main jail in Ventura are scheduled to move to the new unit once it opens in May, according to the publication. 

At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

Caring for the caregivers: How health systems are building benefits strategies with mental health at the core

Wednesday, August 12
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Mark DeFee, Lyra HealthDeborah Visconi, Bergen New Bridge Medical CenterSuneel Kumar Parvathareddy, MD, Advocate/Atrium Health Wilkes Medical CenterEric Parmenter, Quantum HealthMary Beth Lardazabal, DO, DFAPA, Allina Health

Advertisement

Next Up in Behavioral Health News

Advertisement

Comments are closed.