Newsom signs AB 46, giving judges more power to deny mental health diversion in dangerous cases

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 46, a new law that closes a loophole in California's mental health diversion system, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Mental health diversion lets defendants whose mental illness contributed to a crime get treatment instead of moving through the regular court process, though according to the DA’s office, the previous law gave judges little room to deny it even when they had concerns.

Representatives for the District Attorney’s Office say the law not only gives judges more power to keep dangerous defendants in the criminal justice system instead, but that it also strengthens protections for victims during those proceedings.

Riverside County's DA office was among the agencies that pushed for the change, alongside the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, which sponsored the bill.