Diversion First

Diversion, Not Jail

Diversion First is a continuum of services, which offers alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders and/or developmental disabilities, who come into contact with the criminal justice system for low level offenses.

Diversion First logoDiversion First is a more efficient use of public resources designed to:

  • Prevent repeat encounters with the criminal justice system.
  • Improve public safety.
  • Promote a healthier community.

The goal is to intervene whenever possible to provide assessment, treatment or needed supports. 

Do you need help for yourself or someone you know with a mental health issue or substance use disorder? The following services are available 24/7, every day of the year, including holidays:

9-1-1
Call: 9-1-1 | Text: 9-1-1
Request a CIT-trained officer to respond.

Regional Crisis Call Center and Textline
Call: 9-8-8 or 703-527-4077 | TTY: 711
Text: "CONNECT" to 855-11

CSB Emergency Services
Call: 703-573-5679 | TTY: 711

Fairfax Detoxification Center
Call: 703-502-7000 | TTY: 703-322-9080

For non-emergencies: Call the CSB Entry & Referral Services at 703-383-8500 or come directly to the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health.

How Diversion First Helps

  • Intervening at the earliest point possible to de-escalate situations and avoid arrest.
  • Too many people are in jail due to mental health issues. Jail is not the appropriate place to provide mental health treatment.
  • There is a need to prevent the incarceration of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
  • It’s the right thing to do to offer treatment to people who need it, instead of jail being the default solution
  • It’s less costly for people to receive treatment instead of spending time in jail
  • Treatment offers hope by helping people recover and take control of their lives.
  • 1 in 5 Americans has a mental illness. Having a mental illness is not a crime.

Diversion First Programs & Services

Learn more about the programs and services that help the diversion effort in Fairfax County.

There are three Specialty Dockets: Veterans Treatment, Mental Health and Drug Court.

More: Specialized Court Dockets Honor Graduates

Data and Resources

Our resources include presentations, reports, videos and more to help you better understand the benefits of diversion.

Diversion First was launched following recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission and Board of Supervisors adoption of a resolution to decriminalize mental illness by supporting the national Stepping Up initiative. Follow our progress.

 

Diversion First Success Story | Fairfax County [5:26] – July 18, 2025
This National Association of Counties video highlights the tremendous cross-system collaboration and transformation since launching Diversion First, a Stepping Up program in Fairfax County.

The Fairfax Mental Health Docket [6:01] – July 20, 2023 
The goal of the Mental Health Docket, launched in July 2019, is to provide an integrated system of treatment and judicial supervision that results in participant accountability, reduced recidivism and positive participant outcomes.

Stepping up in Fairfax County [3:52] – May 29, 2019
More than 415 counties have joined NACo’s Stepping Up Initiative to reduce mental illness in jails. Fairfax County is proud to be part of this movement through our Diversion First program

Diversion First Initiative Launches [6:30] – Mar 3, 2016
Diversion First is a collaborative effort to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the county jail by diverting low-risk offenders experiencing a mental health crisis to treatment rather than bringing them to jail.

 

Need more information or want to schedule a presentation? Reach out!

Director of Diversion Initiatives
703-324-7088 | TTY 711

DiversionFirst@fairfaxcounty.gov

Diversion First Partners

Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board  Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Fairfax-Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness

Fairfax County Court ServicesFairfax County Department of Fire and RescueFairfax County PoliceFairfax County Department of Public Safety CommunicationsFairfax Sheriff's Office 

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