In Indianapolis, a new effort is steering people arrested at local hospitals away from jail and into treatment. The Marion County Public Defender Agency and the prosecutor’s office are now using the Quality of Life diversion program for misdemeanor arrests that occur on the campuses of Eskenazi Health, IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network.
Why the program matters
According to Kendal Gulbrandsen, who oversees the misdemeanor division at the public defender agency, “the vast majority of these cases are driven by mental health or substance abuse.” Hospital officers often request immediate removal of individuals, leading to arrests for low‑level offenses such as disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement or trespassing.
Under the diversion program, eligible participants can avoid prosecution by completing agreed‑upon conditions – typically securing stable housing, entering mental‑health or substance‑abuse treatment, or otherwise addressing the underlying need. If they fulfill the requirements, the criminal charges are dismissed.
Eligibility and oversight
Michael Leffler, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, explained that eligibility is determined by a person’s criminal history, circumstances and needs. The program, launched in 2021, was originally designed for broader misdemeanor cases; public defenders are now specifically referring hospital‑related arrests to it.
Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal, who is running for state representative, praised the initiative, saying the sheriff’s office “supports programs committed to connecting those experiencing mental illness with treatment and the support they need.” Forestal has previously criticized hospital police for “putting hands” on vulnerable individuals instead of directing them to care.
Hospital perspectives
Hospital leaders have mixed reactions. Eskenazi Health’s spokesperson Todd Harper argues that police are needed to protect staff from a rising tide of workplace violence, a national issue that the Indiana Hospital Association has long lobbied to address. Harper also noted that the public hospital backs the Quality of Life program.
Community Health Network emphasized its commitment to a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees, and highlighted its “strong working relationships” with prosecutors and public defenders. IU Health stressed that it “does not arrest people experiencing a mental health crisis,” instead ensuring they are evaluated and receive appropriate care.
Ascension St. Vincent did not respond to requests for comment.
Transparency gaps
None of the hospitals appear to track arrests on their campuses or the outcomes of those cases. Private‑hospital police forces are not subject to Indiana’s public‑records law, creating a transparency gap that experts say hinders accountability.
After Mirror Indy’s investigation, the public defender’s office began independently tracking hospital arrests. Gulbrandsen noted that “it’s very expensive to house people in jail” – Indianapolis taxpayers spend roughly $85 per day per inmate, and incarceration can jeopardize a person’s housing and access to social services.
Potential benefits
Public defenders argue that diversion can improve safety for both healthcare workers and patients. “If people are getting treatment or stable housing, they won’t be showing up at the hospital again. Or if they do show up, they might be in a better state of mind,” Gulbrandsen said.
Moreover, the program may reduce the burden on jail resources and lessen the trauma that incarceration can inflict on individuals already struggling with mental‑health challenges.
Remaining concerns
Critics point to the lack of body‑camera footage in patient areas, which makes it difficult to verify police conduct. While Indianapolis Metropolitan Police and Indiana State Police officers wear cameras, many hospital police departments do not, citing patient‑privacy concerns.
Nevertheless, the diversion program represents a concrete step toward treating mental‑health and substance‑abuse issues with compassion rather than punishment, aligning with the community’s values of family stability, individual liberty and faith‑based compassion.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
