The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to demolish the Men's Central Jail in downtown L.A. and erect a facility for mental health patients in its place.

We're tearing down decrepit Men's Central Jail & replacing it with a cutting edge Mental Health Treatment Center run by @LACDMH doctors & nurses. This paradigm shift from jail-first to care-first will lead to a lower recidivism rate & more humane care. https://t.co/kXVCwJx8c7

— Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) February 13, 2019

"Men's Central Jail is a decrepit, outdated facility inconsistent with human values and basic decency," L.A. County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn said in a statement on Tuesday. "It puts both our inmates and our sheriff's deputies at risk. It must be torn down."

Criminal justice advocacy groups also celebrated the decision.

"This is a monumental victory for Los Angeles County and a vital paradigm shift for how the criminal justice system treats mental illness," activists said in a release obtained by KTLA.

In a delightful shift of authority, The Los Angeles Times reports the Department of Health Services will be the operational supervisors of the forthcoming institution, rather than the Sheriff's Office, which currently oversees jail procedures.

Per the news site, 70 percent of individuals who are housed in county jails are identified as living with mental or medical issues. The initiative marks the onset of a longer-term plan to reevaluate the process behind accommodating incarcerated people with such ailments. Instead of the standard, large hospital, L.A. County officials will also consider constructing several smaller mental health hubs.

Now that the proposal has been approved, KTLA writes the next action includes informing the board on crucial details surrounding the project which consists of the size of the treatment center and a timeline for its completion.

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