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Orlando Sentinel

February 5, 2004

Reprinted with permission of the author. All rights reserved.

LETTER
Baker Act Reform

Regarding the Jan. 25 editorial "Sensible help": I want to commend the Sentinel for taking a responsible position on Baker Act reform proposed in SB 700/HB 463.

As a mental-health advocate the last three years of my career in law enforcement and corrections, I came into contact with hundreds of people with severe mental illnesses and their family members who welcome the proposed changes in Florida's mental-health laws. As a member of the criminal-justice community for 30 years, I have seen firsthand the effect that untreated mental illness has on the system and the community.

The proposed reform is a reasonable and valid approach to addressing Florida's citizens who are the most severely ill who find themselves in dangerous situations and who, sometimes, endanger law-enforcement officers and the community. How many avoidable deaths have to occur before the bill's opponents see the need for change?

Larry Bacon

Winter Park