--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The criminal justice system is not the…" description: "\"The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it shouldn't be the place of first resort to provide addiction or mental health services. It sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60c/ted-wheeler-5816_criminal-justice_the-criminal-justice-system-is-not-the-r_2396893.jpg" --- # The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it… ![“The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it shouldn't be the place of first resort to provide addiction or mental health services. It should happen elsewhere with no police and no judges and no juries and no jails.” quote by Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60c/ted-wheeler-5816_criminal-justice_the-criminal-justice-system-is-not-the-r_2396893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60c/ted-wheeler-5816_criminal-justice_the-criminal-justice-system-is-not-the-r_2396893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60c/ted-wheeler-5816_criminal-justice_the-criminal-justice-system-is-not-the-r_2396893.jpg) > “The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it shouldn't be the place of first resort to provide addiction or mental health services. It should happen elsewhere with no police and no judges and no juries and no jails.” [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Addiction and mental health need treatment, not criminal penalties; divert to health services. **In simple terms:** Treat health issues with health care, not prisons. Key Takeaway Shift care to health-focused institutions. Themes public health justice reform mental health Mood concerned hopeful Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - homeless shelters - community clinics - court diversion programs Key Concepts decriminalization rehabilitation policy change Questions to Reflect On - How can communities fund health-first approaches? - What safeguards prevent abuse of diversion systems? A Different Perspective Funding and infrastructure may be insufficient for large-scale diversion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction-mental-4783765/) [Criminal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) [Criminal justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice-system/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Jails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jails/) [Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-right-740865/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Right place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-place/) ## Related quotes > [We have all learned that addiction and mental illnesses are illnesses, and I think a lot of people overlook that it is a chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-delevingne/we-have-all-learned-that-addiction-and-mental-illnesses-are-illnesses/) [Poppy Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-delevingne/) > [We must start 24/7 ERs dedicated to addiction and mental health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/we-must-start-24-7-ers-dedicated-to-addiction-and-mental-health/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [It's very painful to love someone who is wrestling with either an addiction or a mental illness because you want the best for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-forbes/it-s-very-painful-to-love-someone-who-is-wrestling-with-either-an/) [Maya Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-forbes/) > [ There are whole states where people \[with addiction or mental health issues\] can't get to a doctor. If that were true of pancreatic cancer,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/there-are-whole-states-where-people-with-addiction-or-mental-health/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I have complete faith and trust in our criminal justice system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamna-kasim/i-have-complete-faith-and-trust-in-our-criminal-justice-system/) [Shamna Kasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamna-kasim/) > [It's been crazy to not only learn about the criminal justice system, but to see how it starts so young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/it-s-been-crazy-to-not-only-learn-about-the-criminal-justice-system/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) ## More by Ted Wheeler > [We have an obligation at the local level to do everything we can with the resources we have. And we do those things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-have-an-obligation-at-the-local-level-to-do-everything-we-can-with/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [The City of Portland, our police bureau, and our employees do not cooperate with ICE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-city-of-portland-our-police-bureau-and-our-employees-do-not/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I don't even recognize myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-don-t-even-recognize-myself-sometimes/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Is Portland worse off than other cities? Is Portland really 'Tent City U.S.A.?' I want to be clear: The answer is no. While the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/is-portland-worse-off-than-other-cities-is-portland-really-tent-city/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [We don't know what the trajectory of autonomous or linked vehicles will be, and we don't have a clear understanding on what that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-don-t-know-what-the-trajectory-of-autonomous-or-linked-vehicles/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I did not inherit a single dime from my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-did-not-inherit-a-single-dime-from-my-father/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I certainly didn't see the mayor's withdrawal coming. I was looking for a highly contested mayoral campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-certainly-didn-t-see-the-mayor-s-withdrawal-coming-i-was-looking/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Peaceful demonstrations are essential to our democratic system. Unfortunately, some individuals have engaged in unlawful and dangerous activity, including arson, rioting, looting, and damaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/peaceful-demonstrations-are-essential-to-our-democratic-system/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [The police should be focused on policing criminal activity, and that's sort of the beginning, the middle and the end of it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-police-should-be-focused-on-policing-criminal-activity-and-that-s/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Homelessness is an umbrella term for a lot of different problems that need separate solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/homelessness-is-an-umbrella-term-for-a-lot-of-different-problems-that/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [There's no question that, in nearly seven weeks of nightly demonstrations, the police have done many things right, and they've done some things wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/there-s-no-question-that-in-nearly-seven-weeks-of-nightly/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I was very clear that we'd invest much more in shelter space to get people off the streets, out of doorways, out from overpasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-was-very-clear-that-we-d-invest-much-more-in-shelter-space-to-get/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Wishful thinking did not give Oregonians the bottle bill. Wishful thinking did not give the public access to beaches. Nor can we expect wishful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/wishful-thinking-did-not-give-oregonians-the-bottle-bill-wishful/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Too often, the very institutions that are supposed to protect and serve our community have instead failed people of color, specifically our black community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/too-often-the-very-institutions-that-are-supposed-to-protect-and/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [I'm ready to fight, and I'm ready to make sure progressive includes progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/i-m-ready-to-fight-and-i-m-ready-to-make-sure-progressive-includes/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) [Explore all 100 Ted Wheeler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) ## More Criminal justice quotes > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“But a punishment like forced labour or even imprisonment – mere loss of liberty – has never functioned without a certain additional element of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/but-a-punishment-like-forced-labour-or-even-imprisonment-mere-loss-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The people who have been unjustly disenfranchised by our criminal justice system and the people who daily fight for them always have, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jenkins/the-people-who-have-been-unjustly-disenfranchised-by-our-criminal/) [Malcolm Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jenkins/) > [Like a lot of people, I'm very, very concerned about Senator Clinton's record. I'm very, very concerned about where her positions were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/like-a-lot-of-people-i-m-very-very-concerned-about-senator-clinton-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [We think of justice sometimes as getting what you deserve, you know - what crime was committed and what is the punishment for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-think-of-justice-sometimes-as-getting-what-you-deserve-you-know/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Biden's political positions have been evolving for decades, shifting more to the left on critical issues such as criminal justice reform, gay marriage, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/biden-s-political-positions-have-been-evolving-for-decades-shifting/) [Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/) > [As a prosecutor and a senator, one of my main criminal justice priorities has been enforcing and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/as-a-prosecutor-and-a-senator-one-of-my-main-criminal-justice/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I think that we are in a position to continue to make progress, but it's gonna require us to both recognize what the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-we-are-in-a-position-to-continue-to-make-progress-but-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whether or not we can save Lake Michigan, whether or not we can avoid a breakdown in our criminal justice system are more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/whether-or-not-we-can-save-lake-michigan-whether-or-not-we-can-avoid/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [I'm very mindful of the need to ensure we have a criminal justice system in which people have confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-m-very-mindful-of-the-need-to-ensure-we-have-a-criminal-justice/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) [Browse all 336 Criminal justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The criminal justice system is not the right place - or it shouldn't be the place of first resort to provide addiction or mental health services. 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