The Framingham Jail Diversion Program (JDP) is operated as part of the Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) of Advocates Inc. and in conjunction with the Framingham Police Department.

The Framingham Jail Diversion Program revolutionizes the way in which emergency mental health services are delivered in Framingham. The goal of the program is to prevent those with mental illness from entering the criminal justice system. This is accomplished through open communication between the mental health treatment community and all levels of the criminal justice system.

This program is a pre-arrest diversion model. The JDP diverts appropriate candidates primarily non-violent offenders out of the criminal justice system and into community based mental health and substance abuse programs. The primary work of the JDP occurs at the offender’s initial contact with law enforcement and before a formal charge is filed. This is not the usual emergency mental health services response.