Following a Mirror Indy investigation, Marion County public defenders and prosecutors have begun diverting people arrested at local hospitals from jail to a special program. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

Kendal Gulbrandsen, a lawyer who oversees the misdemeanor division at the Marion County Public Defender Agency, said the vast majority of these cases are driven by mental health or substance abuse. "Hospital officers want our clients gone immediately. They tend to go straight to an arrest," she said.

Now, people taken to jail from hospitals for low-level misdemeanors, such as disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement and trespassing, can enter a diversion program. People charged with batteries, Gulbrandsen said, may need the victim's approval to join.

If participants find housing or complete treatment for mental health or substance abuse through the program, their criminal charges are dropped. The program, named Quality of Life, was started by the prosecutor's office in 2021; public defenders are now specifically using it to refer people who are arrested at Indianapolis hospitals.

"Eligibility is based on factors such as an individual's criminal history, circumstances and needs," said Michael Leffler, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office.

Mirror Indy's investigation found non-violent offenses — including behaviors tied to mental illness — are driving cases at Eskenazi Health, where hospital police arrest someone every two to three days on average. Public defenders say it's part of a larger trend of arrests at four major hospital systems in Indianapolis. In addition to Eskenazi, IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network have all formed their own police departments — but they operate with little public oversight.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office, which manages the jail, was supportive of the diversion program being used for hospital arrests. "Sheriff Kerry Forestal supports programs committed to connecting those experiencing mental illness with treatment and the support they need," a spokesperson said.

Forestal, who is running to be a state representative, previously told Mirror Indy that hospital police are "putting hands" on people experiencing mental illness instead of getting them treatment. In January, his office discontinued a partnership with Eskenazi Health, which now operates its own independent police force.

Hospital leaders were largely unaware of the diversion program being used in cases stemming from arrests on their campuses. Most did not answer specific questions about the concerns of the sheriff or local public defenders.

Eskenazi Health has maintained that police officers are needed to protect staff from rising rates of workplace violence. "This is a national issue," spokesperson Todd Harper wrote in an email, "and we all must work together to address it."

Harper also said the public hospital supports the Quality of Life diversion program.

Community Health Network said it focuses on creating a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees. The hospital system, a spokesperson said, values its "strong working relationships" with prosecutors and public defenders.

IU Health said it prioritizes the wellbeing of everyone at its facilities and connects patients to social workers. "We do not arrest people experiencing a mental health crisis," said spokesperson Lisa Tellus. "We ensure they are evaluated and get the care they need."

Ascension St. Vincent did not respond to requests for comment.

None of these hospitals appear to be tracking arrests on their campuses or what happens afterward, including if people are ever charged or convicted of a crime.

Three of the city's private hospitals — IU Health, Community Health Network and Ascension St. Vincent — declined to release their arrest records to Mirror Indy. Unlike city, state, county, and public hospital police departments, private hospital police forces are not subject to state public records law. Experts say it's a gap.