Fw: Bazelon Update: Lawmakers Pass Mental Health / Criminal Justice Bill

[Guest guest]

October 12, 2004

Madison County Alabama Commission Chair Mike Gillespie

Dr. Sandra Lance, D.C.

RE: FEderal Law for Mental Health Criminal Justice Funding

 

Mike,

This bill may make Federal funds available to for funding at the Madison

County County Jail for " mental health "

where there has been a lawsuit filed for overcrowding and constitutional

rights violations.

 

It is my understanding that the District and Municipal Court have recently

started holding

" Mental Health " Court requiring convict to recieve out-patient psychiatric

medication & treatment.

It is my understanding that only the PRobate Judge is entitled to commit

somone to

out-patient involuntarily psychiatric commitment.

 

Thank you

 

(Mailing List Information, including unsubscription instructions,

is located at the end of this message.)

 

===========================================================

Legislative Update Oct. 12, 2004

===========================================================

 

Lawmakers Pass Mental Health / Criminal Justice Bill

 

(Oct. 12, 2004)-The Senate yesterday gave final approval to

a bill to address the growing numbers of people with mental

illnesses in the criminal justice system.

 

The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act

(S. 1194)-introduced by Representative Ted Strickland (D-OH)

and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)-was approved unanimously by

the Senate after House lawmakers also unanimously approved

the bill last week.

 

" The criminal justice system is being overwhelmed by a wave

of adults and children with mental health needs, " said

Laurel Stine, director of federal relations at the Bazelon

Center for Mental Health Law. " S. 1194's passage is a

crucial step toward promoting effective alternatives to

needless and harmful incarceration. "

 

Sixteen percent of all adult inmates in U.S. prisons and

jails have a mental illness, according to a landmark 1999

Department of Justice report. In fact, 70 percent of people

with mental illnesses in jails are there for non-violent

offenses.

 

S. 1194 would authorize $50 million in federal funding for

grants to states to support pre- and post-booking

interventions, including crisis intervention teams and law

enforcement training, mental health courts and other

court-based approaches, re-entry and transitional programs.

The bill establishes one-year planning grants and five-year

implementation grants that would require states to increase

their share of funding for the program in later grant

years.

 

" More work must be done to address the criminalization of

mental illness, but S. 1194 is a solid foundation for

reform, " said Stine. " This bill will help keep people with

mental illnesses from being inappropriately incarcerated and

support their efforts to live more successful lives in the

community. "

 

S. 1194 will now be sent to the White House, where advocates

believe President Bush will sign the bill into law.

 

===========================================================

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dignity of people with mental disabilities and make a

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online at:

 

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===========================================================

 

 

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<cburley

<drlance

Tuesday, October 12, 2004 4:17 PM

Bazelon Update: Lawmakers Pass Mental Health / Criminal Justice

Bill

[Guest guest]

I thought that was what happened only in Stalin's time.....ng-----

 

Original Message -----

<DrLance

" SSRI-Crusaders Moderator " <SSRI-Crusaders-owner >;

 

Cc: " Chair Mike 5323492 Gillespie " <mgillespie; " Bazelon

Alerts & Updates " <cburley

Tuesday, October 12, 2004 5:21 PM

Fw: Bazelon Update: Lawmakers Pass

Mental Health / Criminal Justice Bill

 

 

>

>

> October 12, 2004

> Madison County Alabama Commission Chair Mike Gillespie

> Dr. Sandra Lance, D.C.

> RE: FEderal Law for Mental Health Criminal Justice Funding

>

> Mike,

> This bill may make Federal funds available to for funding at the Madison

> County County Jail for " mental health "

> where there has been a lawsuit filed for overcrowding and constitutional

> rights violations.

>

> It is my understanding that the District and Municipal Court have recently

> started holding

> " Mental Health " Court requiring convict to recieve out-patient psychiatric

> medication & treatment.

> It is my understanding that only the PRobate Judge is entitled to commit

> somone to

> out-patient involuntarily psychiatric commitment.

>

> Thank you

>

> (Mailing List Information, including unsubscription instructions,

> is located at the end of this message.)

>

> ===========================================================

> Legislative Update Oct. 12, 2004

> ===========================================================

>

> Lawmakers Pass Mental Health / Criminal Justice Bill

>

> (Oct. 12, 2004)-The Senate yesterday gave final approval to

> a bill to address the growing numbers of people with mental

> illnesses in the criminal justice system.

>

> The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act

> (S. 1194)-introduced by Representative Ted Strickland (D-OH)

> and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)-was approved unanimously by

> the Senate after House lawmakers also unanimously approved

> the bill last week.

>

> " The criminal justice system is being overwhelmed by a wave

> of adults and children with mental health needs, " said

> Laurel Stine, director of federal relations at the Bazelon

> Center for Mental Health Law. " S. 1194's passage is a

> crucial step toward promoting effective alternatives to

> needless and harmful incarceration. "

>