Thursday, December 30, 2004

New law allows court-ordered treatment for mentally ill (Florida)
Story in the Sun Sentinel on a new law that takes effect Jan. 1 - "Until now, the state could commit a mentally ill person only if a judge deemed the person a threat to themselves or others. Short of that risk, a person was released. Under the change, Florida courts will be able to order that mentally ill people undergo community-based treatment if they have a history of not taking their medications and have behaved violently once in the past three years."  
  

Law requires treatment for mentally ill (Michigan)
Holland Sentinel story - "A mentally ill person who does not follow prescribed treatment could be ordered to receive outpatient treatment under legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. For a judge to order treatment, an individual must have been hospitalized, jailed, imprisoned or have acted violently within the previous two years. Family members or others also can intervene to help the mentally ill get treatment before hurting themselves or others..."