The Washington County Sheriff's Office is trying to better understand mental illness.

This comes after three deputies were charged with the murder of an unarmed, mentally ill man and then granted immunity.

Intervention team training... to learn how to recognize and help those with mental illness.

41nbc's jatrissa wooten reports.

Litenuent chuck simmons with georgia public safety training center says--90 percent of calls or situation deputies deal with on the road involve a person with a mental health disorder.

Sot: chuck simmons litenuent georgia public safety tracking center "or situation involving drugs or alcohol abuse" according to simmons, nearly 60 to 70 percent of inmates in some jails suffer from mental health disorders.

The lieutenant says that's why a prepared deputy is important.

"get the officers to become an advocate for the mental health field there instead of just arresting it or just taking it to the county line.

Years ago that how that was taken care of" the washington county sheriff office training came a month after after 3 county deputies were charged in the tasing death of eurie martin, an unarmed--mentally ill man to death, in 20-17.

Simmons says the problem is the lack of training and knowledge when dealing with crisis situations.

According to ashley allen, director at river edge behavioral health, when dealing with those who have mental health challenges, you must be able to listen and ask questions.

Allen says mental health challenges can range from a number of issues.

She says deputies should take their time when communicating, and try to be empathetic.

Sot:ashley "they're either hearing things or seeing things that are not there.

Their thought process can be very disorganized, the also can be experiencing some degree of paranoia" sot: robert butler: deputy washington county sheriff's office deputy robert butler says the week long training taught him to push communication and verbal cues.

Butler says he and other deputies went to places like the oconee center for behavioral health, for real-life experiences, scenarios, and 15 deputies throughout