Mental Health Diversion Under Fire | San Jose News

San Jose News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 1, 2026 · 1m

Governor Gavin Newsom just signed a sweeping mental health diversion bill that gives judges more power to deny treatment in favor of jail time if they believe a defendant poses a public safety risk — a move prosecutors applaud as closing a dangerous loophole, while defense attorneys warn it will trap vulnerable people in prison instead of helping them heal. The original 2018 program, designed to reduce recidivism by offering treatment over incarceration for mentally ill offenders, is now being reshaped: judges can now reject diversion based on prosecutor input, victim safety, and a new…