Los Angeles County implements program to ensure mentally ill get treatment

January 09, 2015

News Type:  Weekly Spark, Weekly Spark News
Speaker:  California

The Los Angeles Times

In November, Los Angeles County approved a plan that increases the availability of treatment for people with serious mental health conditions by funding 300 new treatment slots and two outreach teams that will reach out to potential patients. In some cases, the law also allows the county to request a court order requiring individuals to receive intensive outpatient treatment. County officials say the main focus of the program is on getting people with serious mental illness into voluntary treatment programs, and that the court orders will be used only as a last resort. However, the law has been criticized for taking away patients’ rights, and some people predict that the court orders will be used disproportionately to force people of color into treatment.

Spark Extra! Read about an Arizona law that recently expanded the ability of police to take individuals into psychiatric custody.