One of the nation's most crowded jails may get relief later this year with the opening of a 24-hour triage center in Chicago where police can take people experiencing psychiatric or substance-abuse crises.
The goal is to ease pressure on the county jail, where officials have long complained that about one-fifth of the detainees are locked up because of mental health problems.
The center may help deflect criticism surrounding police shootings of young black men where mental health may have been a factor. But advocates say it will work only if Chicago police get proper training to use it.
Experts say cities like San Antonio, Texas, and Minneapolis with centers have reaped savings in jail and hospital costs.
