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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 8, 2010
Sen. Debbe Leftwich
Senate Approves Bill to Authorize Expansion of Mental Health
Courts
Legislation to increase access to mental
health courts has been approved by the full Senate. Sen. Debbe Leftwich
is the author of Senate Bill 2153, which would enable the creation
of more mental health courts once resources are available.
“We have the potential to save millions of dollars every year
in state spending on corrections, healthcare and public assistance,”
Leftwich said. “Mental health courts have been proven to be
far less expensive and have enabled individuals with mental illness
to become much more productive by giving them access to the treatment
they need.”
Currently, only 14 Oklahoma counties have access to mental health
courts, but Leftwich said the results have been significant. The
Oklahoma City Democrat said in those counties, there has been a
79 percent drop in unemployment for those completing the program.
Within a year of graduating, arrest fell by 92 percent and days
spent in jail were reduced by 90 percent.
“When you look at the bigger picture, you can see how expanding
mental health courts would dramatically reduce spending and increase
personal productivity,” Leftwich said. “About 12,600
offenders held by the Department of Corrections have a mental health
need—that’s 79 percent of all women offenders and 46
percent of male offenders. Until they get the help and the medication
they need, nothing will change. But we can end this revolving door
in our prisons if we improve access to mental health courts.”
Senate Bill 2153 now moves to the House of Representatives for further
consideration.
For
more information contact:
Sen. Leftwich: 405-521-5557
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