BOSTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Governor Healey’s proposed budget includes a roughly $15 million cut to jail diversion programs, bringing the line from $19.1 million to $4 million, to match pre-pandemic funding levels before the state received American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds.

Opponents to the proposed cut, like the Chiefs of Police Association, say the jail diversion programs ultimately save the state money through prevented emergency department visits, diverted arrests, and other interventions.