By Carter Williams, KSL | Posted – December 16, 2025
Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Ryan Sanders speaks with two people experiencing homelessness on July 16. Salt Lake County is working with a former Florida judge on changes to its criminal justice system, which it hopes can address both criminal justice issues and reduce homelessness. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
Key Takeaways
- Salt Lake County explores the adoption of Miami-Dade County's model to combat homelessness and reform criminal justice.
- The "Miami model" has significantly reduced arrests and jail populations through a focus on mental health.
- Salt Lake aims to release a strategic plan next month to implement these transformative changes.
SALT LAKE CITY — Over three years ago, officials from Utah and Salt Lake City were struck by the innovative techniques utilized in Miami-Dade County to manage the intersection of homelessness and criminal justice during a tour of the area. Miami had been working for over two decades to address similar issues, effectively diverting individuals experiencing mental illness away from the criminal justice system and instead placing them into community support programs.
What Is the "Miami Model"?
The Miami model was initiated in 2000 when then-associate administrative judge Steve Leifman observed the case of a young man with late-onset schizophrenia who had a psychotic episode in his courtroom. This pivotal incident revealed the flaws in both the criminal justice and mental health systems, leading to a commitment to reform.
As part of its newfound approach, Miami-Dade adopted a 40-hour training program for police officers to help them better identify mental health crises and respond appropriately without resorting to incarceration. These initiatives contributed to an impressive decrease in annual arrests—from approximately 118,000 to 53,000—and a reduction in the jail population from 7,400 to 4,400, according to reports from the National Judicial College.
Bridging the Gap in Salt Lake County
Currently, Salt Lake County is collaborating with Steve Leifman, who has transitioned to a consultant role following his judicial retirement, with hopes of instilling similar changes in Utah's most populous county. Local officials are looking forward to a strategic roadmap set to be released next month, aimed at establishing a comprehensive care system to tackle homelessness while reforming public safety.
Salt Lake County Council Chair Dea Theodore stated, "I believe there is (an) opportunity for our county to restrategize (and) better coordinate our resources to tackle the complex challenges we face in a way that will drive results."
Leifman has touted existing assets in Salt Lake that can be harnessed to replicate Miami's successes, such as the newly opened Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center, which he commended as one of the best in the nation.
The main concern, as pointed out by Leifman, is the current lack of coordination among agencies offering these resources, a situation slowly improving through adoption of Miami-like approaches. In fact, a concurrent program initiated in Salt Lake has already reduced jail bookings among high-frequency offenders by 28% over six months.
Long-Term Vision
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has expressed optimism regarding forthcoming changes, emphasizing the long-term nature of this endeavor. "This is a long-term endeavor," she noted. "We need to steer the barge in the right direction."
The planned blueprint not only aims to bolster the care system for those experiencing homelessness but also seeks to enhance resource efficiency within the public safety apparatus, potentially attracting support from both state bodies and philanthropic organizations.
Salt Lake County is aware that while expectations are high, the road to significant change will require sustained commitment and time.
For interested parties, the strategic planning report is poised to provide detailed recommendations next month, highlighting a proactive and compassionate approach to a pressing issue impacting many residents.
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- Homelessness up 18% across Utah, new state report finds
- Being homeless is not a crime — Salt Lake officials discuss shift in response to homelessness
As Salt Lake County steps forward into this new era of reform, it does so equipped with lessons learned far from home. The hope is that Miami's success can serve not only as a model but as a guiding light towards a more effective, humane response to the complexities of homelessness and criminal justice.
