State Funds Jail Diversion Programs in Four Counties
New York's Office of Mental Health awarded $2.4 million to three nonprofit providers to divert people with behavioral health needs from jail.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The New York State Office of Mental Health awarded $2.4 million total to three nonprofit providers serving four counties, including $600,000 to Nick's Ride 4 Friends for Cayuga County court diversion services. The three-year grants aim to connect people with complex or chronic behavioral health needs to community-based treatment.
Why it matters
The programs seek to reduce pressure on courts, jails and public safety departments by connecting people with treatment earlier. The agency says earlier treatment can also reduce the number of people later found unfit to stand trial and needing restoration services.
State data show the 13 statewide jail diversion programs served roughly 3,000 people in 2025 and diverted 1,350 from incarceration or hospitalization. The stub does not report a prior-year comparison, and it is unclear how the new county programs will perform.
The players
New York State Office of Mental Health
The state agency that funds the awards and supports 13 jail diversion programs statewide, along with 71 court-based mental health navigators across 40 counties.
Nick's Ride 4 Friends
A nonprofit provider receiving $600,000 over three years to run the Cayuga County court diversion program.
Helio Health
A nonprofit provider receiving $600,000 over three years for its Oneida County diversion program.
The details
Peer specialists will identify people who could benefit from early diversion and connect them to services. The Cayuga County program will hire one part-time and two full-time peer specialists and focus on centralized arraignment courts and the Cayuga County Jail, while programs target adults 18 and older with complex or chronic behavioral health issues and at least one prior criminal justice involvement.
Timeline
- The three-year grant period covers the Cayuga, Oneida, Washington and Warren county awards.
- The state budget for fiscal year 2025 included $7.8 million for court-based mental health navigators.
- The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the awards on November 9, 2026.
Health Landscape
The awards extend New York's court-based mental health navigator program, which funds 71 navigators across 40 counties. The approach mirrors the state's existing 13 jail diversion programs that have already diverted 1,350 people in 2025.
People with complex behavioral health needs who have prior criminal justice involvement may be connected to community treatment through these county programs. Peer specialists will work with individuals in courts and jails to identify and link them to services.
The takeaway
Connecting people to treatment earlier in the justice process may reduce the strain on courts and jails while addressing underlying behavioral health needs. Readers seeking services in participating counties can ask local courts or providers about available peer support.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Substance Abuse reporting on New York programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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