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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Advocacy for mental health support and diversion center
4:45:44
ยท
84 sec
DA McMahon advocates for the establishment of a mental health support and diversion center on Staten Island, emphasizing the link between mental illness, substance abuse, and crime.
- McMahon calls for screening of arrested individuals at police precincts
- He stresses the importance of addressing underlying causes of crime rather than relying solely on prosecution
- The proposed initiatives aim to assess defendants' needs immediately and place them on a path to recovery
Michael McMahon
4:45:44
And lastly, I continue to forcefully advocate for this body support of a mental health support and diversion center on Staten Island and the screening of those arrested as at police precincts.
4:45:56
As a twenty first century prosecutor, I fully understand the fundamental and intrinsic link between mental illness, trauma, chronic homelessness, extreme poverty, substance abuse, and crime.
4:46:12
Simply put, we cannot expect to prosecute our way out of all of society's ills.
4:46:17
We know that.
4:46:19
You know that.
4:46:20
These potentially lifesaving initiatives would assess a defendant's underlying needs immediately and give law enforcement and their assigned counsel the tools to place them on a road to recovery, thereby lessening the chances for recidivism and strengthening public safety as a whole.
4:46:39
As my office continues to work tirelessly to combat these challenges, our success depends entirely on us working together to make our city as safe as possible.
4:46:49
We have remained vigilant and consistent in our dedication to the rule of law, the protection of victims of crime, as well as the rights of the accused, and the overall improvement of public safety on Staten Island, but I must reiterate in the strongest possible terms, we need your help.