Mentally ill offenders (MIO's) compose a substantial proportion of jail and prison inmates, despite the fact that confining mentally ill offenders can and often will exacerbate their mental illness. Currently, only a few cities and counties have considered a more humane form of criminal punishment or alternative to incarceration for MIO's. A diversion program for MIO's in Baltimore, MD, uses a social worker to identify a MIO in the criminal justice system at some point before the offender is jailed. After identification, the social worker consults with the MIO in developing an alternative treatment plan that may involve psychiatric treatment, counseling, and/or education and vocational rehabilitation courses. The social worker also identifies MIO's who have already been incarcerated, so they may receive counseling while in jail and be referred to a treatment plan after discharge. Kings County in Washington State has established a prebooking diversion program in which a police officer who has recognized an offender as mentally ill takes the MIO to a new crisis center instead of to jail. The crime being charged must be a nonviolent misdemeanor. A psychiatrist assesses the MIO at the crisis center and establishes a treatment plan. In Florida, misdemeanor defendants with a mental illness are referred to the Mental Health Court, which employs a court liaison to the mental health treatment community. This liaison is responsible for the development of an initial treatment plan and referring the defendant to the appropriate social services. Upon completion of successful participation in the treatment plan, the MIO may have the charges reduced or dismissed. These and other diversion programs for MIO's are designed to reduce recidivism, treat the mentally ill offenders humanely, and implement discharge procedures that include sufficient follow-up care. These programs, however, lack funding, and they typically have not been properly evaluated for effectiveness and improvement. There is also a need to establish diversion programs that focus on MIO's who have committed more serious and violent felony offenses. 59 references