(Aug. 21, 2015) Texas Senator John Cornyn visited Bexar County last week to highlight the county’s successful mental health and jail diversion programs. Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, is a national leader in using proven programs like assisted outpatient treatment, crisis intervention training and mental health courts to reduce the criminalization of individuals with a severe mental illness.
“Gaps in existing laws or inadequate resources prevent people from getting the treatment they need,” said Senator Cornyn, who is senior senator from Texas and the majority whip. The event was attended by prominent members of the mental health and law enforcement communities.
“Assisted outpatient treatment is about making wellness a habit,” said Judge Oscar Kazen who spoke at the event. Kazen is a Treatment Advocacy Center supporter who presides over AOT cases in San Antonio. He has been championed for his efforts to keep people with severe mental illness out of the criminal justice system whenever possible.
“People have a right to receive treatment before a tragedy occurs,” said Judge Kazen.
Earlier this month, Cornyn introduced the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act which would make additional federal funding opportunities available to expand assisted outpatient treatment for the most severely ill before they become entangled in the criminal justice system. The bill also increases training for law enforcement on how to handle people in a psychiatric crisis and supports data collection on the criminalization of mental illness.
“If passed into law, the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act would expand access to treatment through proven outpatient treatment programs, facilitate important jail diversion programs and bolster the availability of treatment in psychiatric hospitals," said Treatment Advocacy Center Executive Director John Snook.
What can you do to help support these reforms? Write your representative and tell them what these programs would mean to you and your family.
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