This very issue of mental illness and criminal behavior is one of the reasons psychologist and Congressman Ted Strickland (D-Ohio and current candidate for Ohio Governor) and Senator Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) co-sponsored and passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (S.1194). This program "establishes a federal grant program to foster state and local initiatives that improve adult and juvenile nonviolent offenders' [emphasis added] access to mental health care during and after incarceration. The law also will support jail diversion programs, additional mental health courts and increased cross-training of police, criminal justice personnel and mental health personnel on appropriate handling of criminal offenders with mental illness." Before this bill, pilot demonstration projects across the country provided similar services. Their success in recognizing and diverting those with mental illness to more appropriate services and venues for prosecution led to the increase in funding and number of projects funded by the 2004 bill.

Five million dollars will fund this program intially. According to Marilyn Richmond, JD, assistant executive director for government relations in the APA Practice Directorate, the $5 million appropriated for the program is "a substantial increase over earlier funding for the original mental health courts program. It shows the significant support by members of Congress for increasing collaborative efforts among the criminal justice, juvenile justice and mental health systems."

I had the pleasure of meeting Sen. DeWine and Congressman Strickland when they were both honored by APA for their work on this bill and for the mentally ill over the course of their careers. I found both to be passionate and well-informed about the need for services and protection for this vulnerable population. It was a privilege for me to be able to thank them both in person for all of their efforts in decreasing the stigma and increasing the quality of life for the mentally ill.

I think this verdict shows a shift in the awareness of the courts and the public about mental illness. I can't help but think that's a positive thing.

And I can't help but feel tremendous sorrow for Mrs. Yates, her family, and loved ones. She obviously suffered greatly when psychotic, and with proper treatment as she is more rational again, she must be devastated by her actions.

That said, I also can relate to feeling angry and unforgiving towards someone who commits an abhorrent act. At the moment, I'm stuck in anger and lack of compassion for someone who did something heinous and shocking, even though I can find a part of me that recognizes the actions were a manifestation of this person's disorder. I just have no pull towards forgiveness or understanding, at least at the moment. So I can relate to the anger and abhorrence over Mrs. Yates' actions.

Quotes and content about S. 1194 from Monitor On Psychology Volume 37, No. 2 February 2006, published by APA.
http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb06/treatment.html

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