Northumberland County DA tells state panel there's a need for more addiction, mental health services

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

May 8—HARRISBURG — Northumberland County and Pennsylvania need more programs and resources for people with addiction and mental health issues.

That was the plea from Northumberland County District Attorney Michael O'Donnell as he spoke during a state Judicial Subcommittee hearing Wednesday in Harrisburg. The panel sought information on crime deterrence and community safety.

O'Donnell said mental health experts and various programs can make a huge difference in helping with early intervention, keeping issues from evolving into criminal activity.

"One of the things I always use as a reference is building a home," he said. "We need to have a strong foundation because we will always have a storm we will encounter. Life can be difficult and you need a strong foundation."

O'Donnell said some of the people incarcerated in Northumberland County or even on probation come from families with one or no parents, and they have no support.

"When we are able to get various mental health and addiction programs set up, after they are released or sentenced they then have a place to go, a foundation to go to," he said. "Front-line resources have been a success in Milton, where they have a mental health expert on the force. It has made a difference. The issue we have to deal with is if you are going to incarcerate people with mental health (issues), our jail is not equipped to deal with it. And we are simply sending them to jail and kicking the can for someone else to deal with."

O'Donnell said he wants to see mental health experts on all forces in Northumberland County, including state police.

"Front-line resources get better results," he told the committee.

O'Donnell said he doesn't want to send people with addiction issues back to the same environment by just releasing them from jail, and that he is working on getting a work release program in Northumberland County.

"We don't have a work release program and we are constantly throwing them back out there," he said. "If we have resources, not everyone will take advantage, but the vast majority of people that if we provide resources, and get them a job working in the community, are able to pull themselves out."