Memphis Proposes New Jail Mental Health Facility Modeled After the Nashville Model

In what appears to be a significant stride towards driving mental health reforms within the criminal justice framework, there is a growing consensus among lawmakers in Shelby County, Memphis, in support of setting up a new jail mental health facility. It is a project that is widely inspired by a similar undertaking in Nashville, a development that has come to be renowned as the “Nashville Model”.

Funding The Jail Mental Health Facility

Every transformative plan waits upon necessary funding to come to glorious fruition, and the construction of the proposed jail mental health facility in Memphis is no exception. Accordingly, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners has presented an item seeking approval of $18 million previously marked as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. An estimated cost of $2.5 million has already been allocated for exploratory assessments and surveys of the new facility, raising the total cash outlay of the exciting project to the estimated $21 million mark.

The venture adopts a different approach in realizing this ambitious undertaking via a system referred to as “Construction Manager at Risk” (CMR), an effective contract management method. As a practice, a CMR is invited early on during the design processes, working closely with designers mostly hired independently. This method ensures that an integrated planning, design, and construction sequence is maintained, thereby reducing risks of project failure.

Understanding the Memphis Model

The “Memphis Model” is primarily rooted in the precedents set forth by the Nashville Model, a successful mental health facility and program in Nashville. The Nashville Model is recognized for its efforts in “decriminalizing” mental health at the Nashville Downtown Detention Center. By replicating this model, Memphis aims at creating an environment that serves the best interests of detainees challenged with mental well-being, as well as the broader community’s societal needs and safety requirements.

This new facility is to be set up on a piece of county-owned land, a measure aimed at minimizing costs associated with the project. Once up and running, the facility will mirror its Nashville counterpart’s operation, with necessary adaptations to address local Shelby County needs.

The Impact And Future Possibilities

From a broader perspective, the establishment of a jail mental health facility is considered a holistic and balanced approach to dealing with mental health-related challenges within the criminal justice system. The transformative impact is not confined to the reduction of recidivism rates alone, but echoes other potential benefits, such as improved public safety and significant savings on taxpayer dollars.

The final vote concerning the facility’s funding has been scheduled for April 9. If this proposed legislation is anything to go by, there is palpable optimism that it will herald a paradigm shift in addressing the broader problems linked with mental health, particularly those within the criminal justice system.