The family of former Kern County Supervisor Zack Scrivner spoke out publicly for the first time against him, saying they believe California’s mental health diversion system failed to hold him accountable.
Christina and Robert Scrivner, the wife and son of Scrivner, spoke at a press conference on Tuesday hosted by Shannon Grove, who announced Senate Bill 1373, which would restrict which crimes qualify for mental health diversion.
Scrivner was charged with three felony counts of child abuse and two felony weapons charges. He has been accused of sexually assaulting one of his children while under the influence of drugs in April 2024. Instead of going to trial, he was granted mental health diversion. If he completes the program, the charges will be dismissed and his record cleared.
Mental health diversion allows some defendants with diagnosed mental health disorders to receive treatment instead of jail or prison time.
Christina Scrivner said her children cooperated with law enforcement and spoke publicly about their abuse, only to see their alleged abuser face no criminal consequences.
“For months and now years, we tell our children to speak up, speak up for yourselves, tell the truth,” she said. “My children were honest. They did everything right. Their cry for help was met with a broken system under mental health diversion with zero consequences for their violent abuser.”
She said the process left her children exposed and vulnerable while denying them justice and protection.
“As a mother, I need you to know how important it is that no more innocent survivors of abuse are denied protection and justice,” she said. “Senate Bill 1373 is the hope I look to in this dark reality my family faced from those we trusted.”
Robert Scrivner said his family’s case as an example of systemic failure.
“My own father, who is an elected official in Kern County, assaulted my siblings and myself and was granted mental health diversion,” he said. “Our case was a clear example of a flawed system. Without these reforms, we will not have any hope of justice.”
Assemblywoman Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento), a co-author of the bill, said lawmakers support diversion in some cases but believe violent crimes should not qualify.
“We believe in mental health diversion. We absolutely believe it can be effective,” Krell said. “But the floodgates have been opened, and some of the crimes where people are getting diverted are simply too serious for that level of criminal justice enforcement.”
She said crimes like severe child abuse and repeat domestic violence are too serious to qualify for diversion. Krell also said courts are overwhelmed with diversion requests. In Sacramento, nearly half of all cases involve defendants asking for diversion, and there isn’t enough funding or treatment placements to support the system.
“By narrowing the class and increasing the court’s discretion, we’re allowing those who would truly benefit from diversion to have a real opportunity to access those programs,” she said.
The proposed bill would make people accused of certain violent crimes, including attempted murder of a child and domestic violence causing serious injury, ineligible for diversion. It would also give judges more power to deny diversion if a defendant poses a risk to public safety.
Senator Shannon Grove said the mental health diversion program was created to help people with real mental health needs who commit low-level crimes, but it has been misused by violent offenders.
“This program was created with good intentions, but it didn’t come with enough safeguards,” Grove said. “It has become a get-out-of-jail-free card for violent offenders. Victims are left without justice, and perpetrators are returning to our communities without accountability.”
