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Ruling: Insanity defense triggers disclosure requirement
An Arizona Supreme Court ruling says criminal defendants who claim an insanity defense and voluntarily undergo a mental health exam must provide the results to prosecutors.
Arizona police sign on to White House plan to cut jail populations
A federal program calls on police agencies to train officers to handle mental health crises, urges police and health officials to share data on people who have crossed their paths recently, and encourages use of data-based tools to assess risk and release low-risk people awaiting trial in jail simply because they can’t make bail.
County accused of letting mentally ill inmates languish
Lawyers pressing a decades-old lawsuit over conditions in metro Phoenix's jail system say inmates with serious mental illnesses are suffering needlessly because authorities aren't bringing them to outside treatment centers, often leaving them to languish in lockdown cells where they suffer from extreme isolation.
Report: Arizona lags most of nation in treatment available to addicts
A recent study cited by The Pew Charitable Trusts found that Arizona has 20 behavioral health professionals per 1,000 adults addicted to drugs or alcohol, the fifth-lowest rate in the country.
After 33 years, class-action suit seeking care for the seriously mental ill comes to a successful end
In 1980, local mental health experts came together to draft what became known as Senate Bill 1057, a proposed statute intended to create a responsive and accessible community-based system for persons with serious mental illness.
Ducey releases policy “roadmap”
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Doug Ducey’s “roadmap” of policies he would pursue as governor includes lower income taxes, expanded school choice and reduced government waste.
Officials: Valley agencies close to eliminating chronic homelessness among vets
By Jan. 1, housing agencies will have found homes for the last 56 chronically homeless veterans in the Valley, making it the first metropolitan area in the country to accomplish this, advocates say.
Immigration-reform advocates take appeal to an international stage
WASHINGTON – After months of pushing national leaders for action on immigration reform, advocates Monday took their appeal to an international stage, telling the Organization of American States that U.S.... […]
Groups propose mental health database
The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission and several lawyers are laying the groundwork for a database to keep track of people who are under court-ordered mental-health treatment, a tool for police and judges.
Barber to speak in Tucson about veterans, jobs
Congressman Ron Barber plans to address mental health needs for veterans at a Tucson summit.
Integrated care is happening for Maricopa County’s mentally ill
As a physician on the front lines of the public behavioral health system in Maricopa County, I see lives being positively impacted every day thanks to a highly functioning, integrated system of care.
Listening, sharing, communicating help tear down walls of stigma
Reducing stigma requires education and positive associations. That’s why it’s vital to fight misinformation and prejudice on all levels.
