EDITORIAL: Find better ways to help mentally ill people
Fresno Bee, The (CA)May 27, 2015
The latest example is the reaction to Assembly Bill 1006, which would expand treatment for criminals who are mentally ill, and sent to prison or jail.
The legislation by Assembly Member
Levine's bill would be in addition to county mental health courts and focus on defendants sentenced to time in jail or prison. The idea for AB 1006 comes from former Senate President Pro Tem
Noting that most criminals will be released from jail or prison, Steinberg and Levine say government would save money by providing care for mentally ill criminals before they're released.
However, cost savings are theoretical. There would be up-front costs. Gov.
Corrections officials say the bill would duplicate work already done by prison staff and add to the cost of prisons. Such concerns ought to be addressed.
Californians approved Proposition 63 in 2004. It was promoted by Steinberg and it generates
The idea behind the measure was noble, but Proposition 63 has been riddled with unintended consequences.
You might remember that some of the funding was spent -- some would say "wasted" -- on things such as acupuncture, art and drama classes, sweat lodges, parenting classes, massage chairs, horseback riding therapy, yoga and anti-bullying programs.
In addition, Proposition 63 bars the use of that money for court-related services, even for mentally ill people who commit petty crimes.
That restriction should be lifted. There is no good reason to deny Proposition 63 funds for people with mental illness, simply because they have committed minor crimes.
AB 1006 could be refined. But few statewide issues are more pressing than the criminalization of mental illness. For that reason alone, the Appropriations Committee should allow the bill to go to an Assembly floor vote, and be reviewed in the Senate.
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