Sheriff Donna Buckley

You know, that would be the ideal. If we didn't have to incarcerate people, that would certainly be ideal. But there's so many factors that we need to think about, you know, in the reality that we live today. First of all, the lack of mental health and addiction services that exist right now is one of the reasons why we have people spiraling into jail, because we have no place else to put them.

You know, that would be the ideal. If we didn't have to incarcerate people, that would certainly be ideal. But there's so many factors that we need to think about, you know, in the reality that we live today. First of all, the lack of mental health and addiction services that exist right now is one of the reasons why we have people spiraling into jail, because we have no place else to put them.

That's a tragedy. It's a tragedy because people who, especially people who are having a mental health crisis, it's not a surprise that they act unlawfully. But we don't have the infrastructure left because we closed all of the residential treatment facilities back in the 80s. We don't have the beds or the providers to provide that service in advance to prevent someone from getting into a crisis.

That's a tragedy. It's a tragedy because people who, especially people who are having a mental health crisis, it's not a surprise that they act unlawfully. But we don't have the infrastructure left because we closed all of the residential treatment facilities back in the 80s. We don't have the beds or the providers to provide that service in advance to prevent someone from getting into a crisis.

That's a tragedy. It's a tragedy because people who, especially people who are having a mental health crisis, it's not a surprise that they act unlawfully. But we don't have the infrastructure left because we closed all of the residential treatment facilities back in the 80s. We don't have the beds or the providers to provide that service in advance to prevent someone from getting into a crisis.

So I frequently say our jails, not just mine, but the jails in Massachusetts, the jails across the country, are de facto mental health and addiction treatment.

So I frequently say our jails, not just mine, but the jails in Massachusetts, the jails across the country, are de facto mental health and addiction treatment.

So I frequently say our jails, not just mine, but the jails in Massachusetts, the jails across the country, are de facto mental health and addiction treatment.

Now, that said, if we had the appropriate infrastructure to keep people supported who need support, they've committed crimes, they need something more than just go off and don't do it again. If we had those infrastructures in place, then ideally we could not put people in jail. Although there are also circumstances where people need a timeout. They need to be separated from the community.

Now, that said, if we had the appropriate infrastructure to keep people supported who need support, they've committed crimes, they need something more than just go off and don't do it again. If we had those infrastructures in place, then ideally we could not put people in jail. Although there are also circumstances where people need a timeout. They need to be separated from the community.

Now, that said, if we had the appropriate infrastructure to keep people supported who need support, they've committed crimes, they need something more than just go off and don't do it again. If we had those infrastructures in place, then ideally we could not put people in jail. Although there are also circumstances where people need a timeout. They need to be separated from the community.

They need the time to understand what they did, be held accountable, and figure out what the next chapter looks like. So I think in Massachusetts right now, what we're seeing is that our sheriffs are remarkably, amazingly filling two needs. One, we are keeping people in custody who need to be in custody.

They need the time to understand what they did, be held accountable, and figure out what the next chapter looks like. So I think in Massachusetts right now, what we're seeing is that our sheriffs are remarkably, amazingly filling two needs. One, we are keeping people in custody who need to be in custody.

They need the time to understand what they did, be held accountable, and figure out what the next chapter looks like. So I think in Massachusetts right now, what we're seeing is that our sheriffs are remarkably, amazingly filling two needs. One, we are keeping people in custody who need to be in custody.

For those people who there is no other option, people that are here, we are providing the medical and mental health services. We are providing the supports. We are giving people the tools or starting that work. And I can speak for myself here, but I know there are other sheriff's offices as well who are understanding that that work is a continuum.

For those people who there is no other option, people that are here, we are providing the medical and mental health services. We are providing the supports. We are giving people the tools or starting that work. And I can speak for myself here, but I know there are other sheriff's offices as well who are understanding that that work is a continuum.

For those people who there is no other option, people that are here, we are providing the medical and mental health services. We are providing the supports. We are giving people the tools or starting that work. And I can speak for myself here, but I know there are other sheriff's offices as well who are understanding that that work is a continuum.

It doesn't just happen while people are incarcerated. It has to continue post-release. As sheriffs, we have the infrastructure because we have them within our facilities. So we are able to seamlessly provide that support post-release. And we have seen some amazing examples of that working, especially for people with mental health challenges.

It doesn't just happen while people are incarcerated. It has to continue post-release. As sheriffs, we have the infrastructure because we have them within our facilities. So we are able to seamlessly provide that support post-release. And we have seen some amazing examples of that working, especially for people with mental health challenges.

It doesn't just happen while people are incarcerated. It has to continue post-release. As sheriffs, we have the infrastructure because we have them within our facilities. So we are able to seamlessly provide that support post-release. And we have seen some amazing examples of that working, especially for people with mental health challenges.