A bill pending before the Iowa House Public Safety Committee would create a diversion program for prison inmates who are suffering from a mental health disorder; and the committee’s chair says such a program would be welcome for those in law enforcement.

Rep. Jon Thorup tells KNIA/KRLS News it has been obvious for some time a number of prisoners in the corrections system would benefit from proper mental health care.

“I’m glad that we’re actually taking mental health seriously; there have been several people for many years who have known that this was a problem, known that this was a crisis. It’s exciting to be able to be part of the solution to that,” Rep. Thorup says.

In his time in law enforcement, Thorup has seen or personally come into contact with persons who have a mental health problem; he says the justice system is sometimes their last stop, and in some cases the problem is aggravated by a substance abuse problem.