{"id":11893,"date":"2026-03-13T20:06:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T04:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/26\/?p=11893"},"modified":"2026-03-13T20:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T04:06:25","slug":"el-dorado-county-da-vern-pierson-pushes-state-lawmakers-to-close-mental-health-diversion-loophole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/26\/crime\/el-dorado-county-da-vern-pierson-pushes-state-lawmakers-to-close-mental-health-diversion-loophole\/","title":{"rendered":"El Dorado County DA Vern Pierson Pushes State Lawmakers to Close Mental Health Diversion \u2018Loophole\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

El <\/span>Dorado <\/span>County <\/span>DA <\/span>Advocates <\/span>for <\/span>AB <\/span>46 <\/span>to <\/span>Reform <\/span>Mental <\/span>Health <\/span>Diversion <\/span>Law<\/span><\/h1>\n

PLACERVILLE, <\/span>Calif. \u2014 <\/span>El <\/span>Dorado <\/span>County <\/span>District <\/span>Attorney <\/span>Vern Pierson<\/span><\/span> is <\/span>leading <\/span>a <\/span>statewide <\/span>push <\/span>to <\/span>change <\/span>California\u2019s <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>diversion <\/span>laws, <\/span>arguing <\/span>that <\/span>current <\/span>statutes <\/span>limit <\/span>judges\u2019 <\/span>ability <\/span>to <\/span>protect <\/span>the <\/span>public <\/span>from <\/span>dangerous <\/span>offenders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pierson <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>primary <\/span>co-<\/span>sponsor <\/span>and <\/span>prominent <\/span>advocate <\/span>of <\/span>Assembly Bill 46<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>which <\/span>is <\/span>scheduled <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>hearing <\/span>before <\/span>the <\/span>California State Senate Public Safety Committee<\/span><\/span> on <\/span>March <\/span>17.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>bill <\/span>seeks <\/span>to <\/span>amend <\/span>California\u2019s <\/span>existing <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>diversion <\/span>statute, <\/span>California Penal Code \u00a7 1001.36<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>which <\/span>allows <\/span>certain <\/span>defendants <\/span>with <\/span>diagnosed <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>disorders <\/span>to <\/span>receive <\/span>treatment <\/span>instead <\/span>of <\/span>jail <\/span>or <\/span>prison <\/span>time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pierson <\/span>and <\/span>other <\/span>prosecutors <\/span>say <\/span>the <\/span>law, <\/span>as <\/span>currently <\/span>written, <\/span>has <\/span>created <\/span>a <\/span>loophole <\/span>that <\/span>forces <\/span>judges <\/span>to <\/span>grant <\/span>diversion <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>they <\/span>believe <\/span>a <\/span>defendant <\/span>may <\/span>pose <\/span>a <\/span>public <\/span>safety <\/span>risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Judges <\/span>should <\/span>have <\/span>the <\/span>discretion <\/span>to <\/span>protect <\/span>the <\/span>community,\u201d <\/span>Pierson <\/span>said <\/span>in <\/span>public <\/span>statements <\/span>advocating <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>legislation. \u201c<\/span>If <\/span>someone <\/span>poses <\/span>a <\/span>substantial <\/span>danger <\/span>to <\/span>others, <\/span>the <\/span>court <\/span>should <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>required <\/span>to <\/span>grant <\/span>diversion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Local <\/span>Case <\/span>Highlighted <\/span>in <\/span>Reform <\/span>Push<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pierson <\/span>has <\/span>pointed <\/span>to <\/span>several <\/span>cases <\/span>statewide <\/span>to <\/span>illustrate <\/span>what <\/span>prosecutors <\/span>describe <\/span>as <\/span>flaws <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>law, <\/span>including <\/span>a <\/span>violent <\/span>incident <\/span>in <\/span>Placerville.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>January <\/span>2025, <\/span>a <\/span>man <\/span>identified <\/span>as <\/span>Jacob Gonzalez<\/span><\/span> allegedly <\/span>attacked <\/span>a <\/span>person <\/span>sleeping <\/span>outside <\/span>the <\/span>El <\/span>Dorado <\/span>County <\/span>Library <\/span>branch <\/span>in <\/span>Placerville, <\/span>stabbing <\/span>the <\/span>victim <\/span>multiple <\/span>times <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>head, <\/span>chest <\/span>and <\/span>hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors <\/span>have <\/span>cited <\/span>the <\/span>case <\/span>as <\/span>an <\/span>example <\/span>of <\/span>how <\/span>courts <\/span>may <\/span>feel <\/span>compelled <\/span>to <\/span>consider <\/span>diversion <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>a <\/span>defendant\u2019s <\/span>history <\/span>raises <\/span>concerns <\/span>about <\/span>public <\/span>safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pierson <\/span>has <\/span>argued <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>case <\/span>underscores <\/span>the <\/span>need <\/span>for <\/span>legislation <\/span>allowing <\/span>judges <\/span>greater <\/span>flexibility <\/span>to <\/span>deny <\/span>diversion <\/span>when <\/span>a <\/span>defendant <\/span>presents <\/span>what <\/span>he <\/span>calls <\/span>a \u201c<\/span>substantial <\/span>and <\/span>undue <\/span>risk\u201d <\/span>to <\/span>others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key <\/span>Changes <\/span>Proposed <\/span>in <\/span>AB <\/span>46<\/span><\/h2>\n

If <\/span>enacted, <\/span>AB <\/span>46 <\/span>would <\/span>introduce <\/span>several <\/span>changes <\/span>to <\/span>California\u2019s <\/span>diversion <\/span>framework.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expanded <\/span>Ineligible <\/span>Crimes:<\/span><\/strong>
The <\/span>bill <\/span>would <\/span>add <\/span>attempted <\/span>murder <\/span>and <\/span>voluntary <\/span>manslaughter <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>list <\/span>of <\/span>offenses <\/span>that <\/span>automatically <\/span>disqualify <\/span>defendants <\/span>from <\/span>diversion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Higher <\/span>Public <\/span>Safety <\/span>Standard:<\/span><\/strong>
The <\/span>measure <\/span>would <\/span>replace <\/span>the <\/span>current <\/span>legal <\/span>threshold <\/span>requiring <\/span>proof <\/span>of <\/span>an \u201c<\/span>unreasonable <\/span>risk\u201d <\/span>of <\/span>committing <\/span>a <\/span>serious <\/span>violent <\/span>offense <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>broader <\/span>standard <\/span>requiring <\/span>courts <\/span>to <\/span>determine <\/span>whether <\/span>a <\/span>defendant <\/span>poses <\/span>a \u201c<\/span>substantial <\/span>and <\/span>undue <\/span>risk\u201d <\/span>to <\/span>another <\/span>person\u2019s <\/span>physical <\/span>safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Restoration <\/span>of <\/span>Judicial <\/span>Discretion:<\/span><\/strong>
The <\/span>bill <\/span>explicitly <\/span>clarifies <\/span>that <\/span>diversion <\/span>decisions <\/span>are <\/span>discretionary, <\/span>meaning <\/span>judges <\/span>could <\/span>deny <\/span>diversion <\/span>even <\/span>if <\/span>a <\/span>defendant <\/span>technically <\/span>meets <\/span>eligibility <\/span>criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stricter <\/span>Mental <\/span>Health <\/span>Requirements:<\/span><\/strong>
Defendants <\/span>would <\/span>need <\/span>a <\/span>diagnosis <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>qualifying <\/span>mental <\/span>disorder <\/span>within <\/span>five <\/span>years <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>alleged <\/span>offense, <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>qualified <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>expert <\/span>would <\/span>have <\/span>to <\/span>testify <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>proposed <\/span>treatment <\/span>plan <\/span>directly <\/span>addresses <\/span>symptoms <\/span>linked <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>crime.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional <\/span>Procedural <\/span>Safeguards:<\/span><\/strong>
Courts <\/span>would <\/span>also <\/span>be <\/span>required <\/span>to <\/span>state <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>record <\/span>their <\/span>reasons <\/span>for <\/span>denying <\/span>diversion <\/span>and <\/span>consider <\/span>victims\u2019 <\/span>rights <\/span>protections <\/span>under <\/span>Marsy\u2019s Law<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Statewide <\/span>Support <\/span>from <\/span>Prosecutors<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>effort <\/span>is <\/span>backed <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>California District Attorneys Association<\/span><\/span> and <\/span>several <\/span>district <\/span>attorneys <\/span>across <\/span>the <\/span>state <\/span>who <\/span>argue <\/span>that <\/span>recent <\/span>criminal <\/span>justice <\/span>reforms <\/span>have <\/span>unintentionally <\/span>weakened <\/span>accountability <\/span>in <\/span>some <\/span>cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors <\/span>also <\/span>say <\/span>the <\/span>current <\/span>diversion <\/span>process <\/span>allows <\/span>certain <\/span>defendants <\/span>to <\/span>complete <\/span>treatment <\/span>programs <\/span>and <\/span>have <\/span>their <\/span>charges <\/span>removed <\/span>from <\/span>their <\/span>criminal <\/span>records, <\/span>which <\/span>they <\/span>argue <\/span>can <\/span>obscure <\/span>a <\/span>history <\/span>of <\/span>dangerous <\/span>behavior <\/span>from <\/span>future <\/span>courts <\/span>and <\/span>law <\/span>enforcement <\/span>agencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Supporters <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>legislation <\/span>say <\/span>the <\/span>changes <\/span>would <\/span>ensure <\/span>that <\/span>diversion <\/span>remains <\/span>available <\/span>for <\/span>appropriate <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>cases <\/span>while <\/span>giving <\/span>courts <\/span>clearer <\/span>authority <\/span>to <\/span>deny <\/span>it <\/span>when <\/span>public <\/span>safety <\/span>is <\/span>at <\/span>risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Legislative <\/span>Path <\/span>Ahead<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>Senate <\/span>Public <\/span>Safety <\/span>Committee <\/span>hearing <\/span>on <\/span>March <\/span>17 <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>the <\/span>next <\/span>major <\/span>step <\/span>for <\/span>AB <\/span>46 <\/span>as <\/span>lawmakers <\/span>weigh <\/span>testimony <\/span>from <\/span>prosecutors, <\/span>defense <\/span>attorneys, <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>advocates <\/span>and <\/span>victims\u2019 <\/span>rights <\/span>groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>approved <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>committee, <\/span>the <\/span>bill <\/span>would <\/span>continue <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>California <\/span>Legislature <\/span>before <\/span>potentially <\/span>reaching <\/span>the <\/span>governor\u2019s <\/span>desk <\/span>later <\/span>this <\/span>year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>debate <\/span>highlights <\/span>an <\/span>ongoing <\/span>statewide <\/span>conversation <\/span>about <\/span>how <\/span>to <\/span>balance <\/span>mental <\/span>health <\/span>treatment, <\/span>criminal <\/span>accountability <\/span>and <\/span>public <\/span>safety.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson is urging state lawmakers to pass AB 46, a bill designed to tighten California\u2019s mental health diversion laws and restore judicial discretion in violent cases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"7","parallax":"1","layout":"no-sidebar-narrow","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"float","share_float_style":"share-normal","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_post_related":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"Critical Senate hearing set March 17 as prosecutors argue current law limits judges\u2019 ability to deny diversion for potentially violent offenders"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"yoast_head":"\nEl Dorado County DA Vern Pierson Pushes State Lawmakers to Close Mental Health Diversion \u2018Loophole\u2019 - 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