The Northborough Police Department welcomes a new jail diversion co-responder

Chief Brian Griffin is pleased to announce that the Northborough Police Department welcomes Lynn Botsaris, LICSW, as their new Jail Intervention Associate.

The Northborough Police Department has been using the Jail Diversion Co-Responder for four years, a concept that has been widely adopted to assist public safety officers during calls for service. When the call for service involves behavioral health, substance use disorder, or other situations where residents need help or community resources, the co-responder can help avoid potential incarceration. This approach often provides relief to the prison system and offers a path to addressing existing issues by connecting clients with needed resources.

Lynn Botsaris earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Elms College and a Master of Social Work from Boston College. She has extensive experience in the mental health field for all age groups. Prior to her work as a contributing writer, Lynn provided ongoing therapy and support services to homebound individuals, addressing issues such as addiction, housing, and poverty. She also served as a community psychiatrist on the adult psychiatric unit at Saint Vincent’s Hospital and on the Crisis Assessment Team in the Emergency Department at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, providing support and assessment to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

In her role as a resource person, Lynn is available to both the Northborough and Southborough Police Departments as a common resource.

“Contact with our officers should be the way to resolve the situation. If we can do that over the long term, rather than just putting on a temporary band-aid, we will serve our community more effectively,” said Chief Griffin. “Individuals often get into trouble with the law because of their unique circumstances and the feeling that they have no other option. A collaborative approach is the way to keep individuals from getting stuck in a revolving door of going in and out of prison.”

Lynn Botsaris works for Advocates, an organization that provides a wide range of services to people facing life challenges such as addiction, aging, autism, brain injuries, intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. At Advocate, thousands of individuals and families in Massachusetts find the support they need to lead healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact Advocates’ 24/7 crisis helpline at 800-640-5432.