CVU Supports SB 1373
Balancing Treatment and Accountability: Why SB 1373 Matters
Mental health diversion programs are designed to provide treatment when appropriate, but they must also maintain clear boundaries to protect victims and the broader community.
Senate Bill 1373 strengthens that balance by ensuring diversion is used as intended.
What SB 1373 Does
SB 1373 refines California’s Mental Health Diversion program by restoring judicial discretion and setting clearer standards for when diversion is appropriate.
The bill:
Makes individuals charged with serious and violent offenses ineligible for diversion, including crimes such as child abuse, human trafficking, and offenses causing great bodily injury
Requires courts to rely on competent, admissible evidence when making diversion decisions
Ensures courts consider key factors such as public safety risk, prior criminal history, and treatment compliance
These changes help close gaps that have led to inconsistent or overly broad use of diversion.
The Challenge With the Current System
Mental health diversion plays an important role, but without clear limits, it can be applied in cases where the risk to victims and the community is too high.
Concerns with the current framework include:
Limited consistency in how eligibility is determined
Insufficient consideration of public safety risks
Cases involving serious harm being considered for diversion
When these issues arise, they can undermine confidence in the system and leave victims feeling unprotected.
Restoring the Right Balance
SB 1373 does not eliminate diversion. It strengthens it by ensuring it is used in appropriate cases.
By setting clearer eligibility standards and reinforcing judicial oversight, the bill:
Protects the integrity of diversion programs
Prioritizes victim safety in high-risk cases
Supports more consistent and evidence-based decision-making
This approach recognizes that treatment and accountability are not mutually exclusive, but must be carefully balanced.
Why This Matters for Victims
Victims deserve a justice system that considers both the circumstances of the offender and the impact of the crime.
When diversion is applied without clear safeguards, victims may feel that the seriousness of the offense has not been fully acknowledged.
SB 1373 helps ensure that:
Serious and violent offenses are treated accordingly
Public safety remains a central consideration
Victims have confidence in how decisions are made
A More Responsible Use of Diversion
For more than four decades, Crime Victims United has supported policies that strengthen public safety while recognizing the complexity of the justice system.
SB 1373 reflects that approach. It preserves access to mental health treatment where appropriate, while reinforcing accountability where it is necessary.
Support SB 1373
Diversion programs should provide opportunity without compromising safety.
SB 1373 brings clarity, consistency, and balance to an important part of the justice system. Crime Victims United is proud to support this measure and urges an AYE vote.