General Resources / Legal Resources / Medical Resources / Briefing Papers / State Activity    
Hospital Closures / Preventable Tragedies / Press Room / Search Our Site / Home

Salinas Californian

Septebmer 3, 2007

Visit the Salinas Californian online.

Letter to the Editor

California needs Laura's Law

As family members are often the primary care providers for people with severe mental illnesses, they are often most at risk of a violent act committed by their loved ones ("Mother's murder leaves family without its center," Aug. 27).

We will never know for certain if Maria James' death could have been prevented if her son, John Vierra, had been taking his medication for schizophrenia.

It is certain that people with severe mental illnesses taking medication are no more violent than the general population.

Laura's Law allows for assisted outpatient treatment to help people with severe mental illnesses get treatment.

Unfortunately, Laura's Law has not been implemented in most California counties, including Monterey.

Assisted outpatient treatment is proven to increase adherence to treatment, and thus reduce violence and arrests and improve the lives of those in the program. In New York, 83 percent fewer participants in that state's similar program experienced arrest; 81 percent of participants said it helped them get and stay well.

It's time for each of California's counties to implement Laura's Law for people with severe mental illnesses and their families.

Jonathan Stanley, acting executive director
Treatment Advocacy Center, Arlington, Va