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Lake County Pushes For Police Training On Dealing With Mentally Ill

NIU Today

Lake County officials are pushing to train local police officers to help reduce the number of repeat criminal offenders among those with mental illness.

The county board is expected to set aside $35,000 for a police training program at College of Lake County. The county also received a $1 million substance abuse and mental health grant to focus on early police intervention to stem repeat criminal behavior among mentally ill offenders.

Board member Sandra Hart says the county health department is seeking a location for a 24-hour crisis intervention center where officers could work with health professionals.

Officials say 40 percent of county jail inmates in February were on psychotropic medication to treat various mental health issues.