tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-819711698688655785.post4912475089961808479..comments2023-10-30T00:44:05.942-07:00Comments on Governing through Crime: Two Cheers for Laura's LawJonathan Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217567476776700363noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-819711698688655785.post-53339527153726198552010-06-26T12:55:04.735-07:002010-06-26T12:55:04.735-07:00Sadly DJ, you did not thoroughly read Laura's ...Sadly DJ, you did not thoroughly read Laura's Law, nor do you fully understand it. It isn't just about medication, it's about intensive outpatient treatment, it is also about intervening prior to the 5150 level, 'LEGALLY INSANE' at which point it's usually too late. The severely mentally ill person is either shot, tasered, hog tied and then incarcerated-put into solitary confinement without any medication because...the jail can't even force treatment/meds. This causes the patient's brain to deteriorate further, illness worsens and yet still...no treatment. This is the cruelest form of coercion/force used by the criminal justice system and institution EVER! i know, i have a son who was diagnosed schizo-affective 13 years ago and a year ago he became one of those statistics. One year later he still has nightmares, i know many families first hand whose children, spouses, siblings have suffered as much or were shot to death--no weapon either, but psychotic! Laura's Law may not be perfect but it is a far cry and a 100% better than what the current Lanterman Petris-Short Act (LPS)offers which ultimately leads to death, and besides LPS is an archaic law, over 30 years old. Laura's Law is the most HUMANE form of treatment to those suffering terribly. Dogs are treated better. BTW, Kendra's Law is extremely successful and was just extended 5 more years! The services within the mental health system are already available, no need to re-invent the wheel here- they're not being used to the fullest because many w/severe mental illness are too sick to access treatment. If your elderly parent or grandparent had dementia/alzheimers,the family and gov are forced to provide treatment, because of compassion the elderly, the mentally ill are much younger why are they discriminated against and not given the treatment they so deserve. We wouldn't lock them up in jail or prison without medication. JUST AN FYI, the word schizophrenic was coined by a psychiatrist in the 1800's meaning young person with dementia. It's somewhat different yet still a neurological disease that strikes a younger person and worsens over a lifetime THINK ABOUT IT. RESEARCH THE FACTS you might be enlightened. Ignorance of Laura's Law is harming the masses of severely mentally ill as we speak.cyndihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05137695271685923398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-819711698688655785.post-18688252579047453752010-05-12T13:33:18.765-07:002010-05-12T13:33:18.765-07:00A similar law in NY called Kendra's Law found ...A similar law in NY called Kendra's Law found it:<br /><br />· Helps the mentally ill by reducing homelessness (74%); suicide attempts (55%); and substance abuse (48%);<br />· Keeps the public safer by reducing physical harm to others (47%) and property destruction (43%).<br />· Saves money by reducing hospitalization (77%); arrests (83%); and incarceration (87%).<br />· Results in beneficial structural changes to local mental health service delivery including enhanced accountability and improved access to services; improved treatment plan development, discharge planning, and coordination of services.<br /><br />See recent NY Post op-ed by VP NYS Chiefs of Police, Michael Biasotti: <br />http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/make_kendra_law_permanent_avLb6Ptjbh5QLNoBFwyQwLMental Illness Policy Orghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271590567394649679noreply@blogger.com