Sedgwick County has taken several steps to make mental health services more accessible for inmates in the county jail. Last March, the Sedgwick County Commission joined a national effort — the Stepping Up initiative — to reduce the number of people with mental illness in jail. Sheriff Jeff Easter has estimated that about one-third of people in the approximately-1,500 person jail have mental illness. Since then, the county jail has put a number of steps in motion. That includes no longer charging people in jail a $5 co-pay for mental health medication.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
