IBO's Arden Armbruster introduces analysis of mental illness and homelessness in jail population
Arden Armbruster introduces herself and Claire Salant from the Independent Budget Office. She says IBO is monitoring the jail population in light of Rikers closure and will share preliminary analysis on people in DOC custody with mental illness and or homelessness.
Good morning, Chair Brooks Powers and members of the Committee on Criminal Justice.
My name is Arden Armbruster, and I'm a lead budget and policy analyst at the New York City Independent Budget Office, IBO.
I'm joined today by my colleague, Claire Saland.
IBO is a government agency whose mission is to enhance understanding of New York City's budget, public policy, and economy through independent analysis.
We appreciate the invitation to testify today at today's hearing on mental health care in New York City's jails.
IBO has been closely monitoring the changing jail population in light of the mandate to close the facilities on Rikers Island.
Today, we will share preliminary analysis from a forthcoming publication about people in DOC custody with a history of mental illness and or homelessness.
While previous IBO publications have noted that the city has diverted many people facing lower-level charges, the jail population is still larger than the capacity of the borough-based jails.
The rates of mental illness among people in custody have historically been higher than the general public, but the share of the jail population with mental health needs has been increasing even as the city has expanded its diversion programs.
However, the overall population with a mental illness is not homogenous.