The Southern Legal Counsel and the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities acted as amicus curiae to challenge the treatment of persons with mental illness (often homeless persons) in the Dade County jail system. They prepared a short term plan which was adopted by the Court and implemented by Defendant Dade County to improve conditions. $945,000 was allocated for implementation of the expert's short-term plan. An additional $350,000 was allocated for a total increase in staff which more than doubled existing staff. Additionally, defendants completed necessary renovations on the floor that housed many of the plaintiffs. Defendants approved the most significant recommendation of the plaintiffs on diversion, which steered homeless persons with mental illness away from the jail to housing in the community and assisted them to negotiate the criminal system. On September 20, 1999, Judge William M. Hoeveler granted the motion to terminate the supplemental consent decree and relinquish jurisdiction of the case.

Jessica Kincaid - 03/21/2014


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