Fond du Lac Co. law enforcement addresses diversion programs amid new jail debate

FOND DU LAC (WLUK) — The Fond du Lac County sheriff and district attorney highlighted its diversion programs amid debate over the county’s new jail.

Various residents said the county should pursue more diversion programs at a meeting Tuesday. Residents have voiced that view throughout the process, dating back to early December.

Fond du Lac County law enforcement addressed its diversion programs on Tuesday night. (WLUK)

How diversion programs work

An example: If someone convicted of a crime, say a misdemeanor or certain felonies, could benefit from a drug rehab program, that person can enter the program and be diverted from county jail with conditions. It’s designed to help criminals improve themselves, theoretically lowering the chances of a return to jail.

The county has a drug rehab diversion program and a program for veterans, plus a diversion program eligible for some convicted of misdemeanors or less serious felonies. District attorney Eric Toney oversees the last of those three.

“I think the biggest goal you can have is if you can get somebody that type of treatment early, where they may be committing some of the lower-level offenses, you may be able to stop them from committing some of those more serious offense,” said Toney.

However, the drug rehab program is winding down, said Toney, due to a lack of interest in the program. It also primarily serves people headed for the state prison system, which puts a tax burden on Fond du Lac County taxpayers without the benefit of serving those in the county jail.

Jail hosts 20+ in-house diversion programs

These programs are mostly run by volunteers and religious organizations – Bible studies or groups that support alcoholics, drug addicts or victims of sexual abuse. The jail also offers educational programs for inmates.

The goal of diversion programs is to lower the jail capacity, yet law enforcement says sometimes jail time is necessary. Among all inmates, 75% have violated probation or parole hold or bail-jumped, and most are for violent crimes. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said violent crime has increased significantly in his 28 years in the department.

“We’ve got some serious societal problems,” said Waldschmidt, “and it’s our responsibility in public safety to ensure that they’re not out creating a further threat to society.”

Toney hopes for new mental health diversion program

Toney said he’s had conversations with judges about creating a new mental health diversion program.

“I think that’s something that we could probably use in every county across the state,” said Toney. “Just the cost to getting into some of these programs can be a little bit of a deterrent to getting into them.”

Fond du Lac County is still receiving proposals for the new jail. The committee that met on Tuesday had no plans of moving forward with anything, but discussions will continue next week.

A correction was made, as the original article incorrectly said district attorney Eric Toney oversees the drug diversion program and veteran diversion program.