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Washington Post
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Reprinted with permission of the author
Protection for Maryland's Mentally Ill
The June 17 editorial "When to Drug a Prisoner" described one of the root causes of the criminalization of people with serious psychiatric disorders: "Rules in many states make it too hard to ensure care for people whose symptoms impair their ability to appreciate that they need help." In Maryland, about 4,000 people in state prisons have psychiatric disorders.
A new Maryland law that takes effect Oct. 1 will change the criteria for an emergency evaluation petition to facilitate timely treatment. The current requirement of "imminent danger" of bodily harm will change to "presents a danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others." The law clarifies that peace officers who petition for an evaluation need observe only the individual, not the dangerous behavior, and that petitions may be based on other pertinent information.
This is still a long way from the "need for treatment" standards of many other states. But we hope the new law will result in more people receiving appropriate medical treatment in the mental health system, rather than in jail.
EVELYN BURTON
Co-Chairman
Maryland Treatment Committee
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Potomac