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Fact Sheet
Last updated March 2005
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Experiences from Other States
New Jersey is currently one of only eight states without a law allowing for
court-ordered outpatient treatment for individuals with a history of medication
noncompliance. As New Jersey reexamines its mental health system and contemplates adopting
assisted outpatient treatment (AOT), information from states with already successful AOT
programs will be invaluable. Following is
commentary provided by officials and treatment professionals throughout the country
regarding their experiences with assisted outpatient treatment.
- New
York's successful AOT program, Kendra's Law, went into effect November 1999. During AOT,
74% fewer participants experienced homelessness, 77% fewer experienced psychiatric
hospitalization, 83% fewer experienced arrest, and 87% fewer experienced incarceration.
Individuals in Kendras Law were also more likely to regularly participate in
services and take prescribed medication.
- A
Duke University study of AOT found similar benefits: Long-term assisted outpatient
treatment reduced the risk of arrest by 74%, hospitalization by up to 74%, victimization
by 50%, and risk of violence by up to 50%.
"[W]e are dealing with these
cases one way or another.
That is, if we do not handle the
cases on the civil docket for
court-ordered treatment, we
will have to deal with them on
the criminal docket when
crimes are committed, often as
a result of the untreated
symptoms of their illness."
- Wisconsin Circuit Court judge
Ralph M. Ramirez |
- "AOT
resulted in fundamental changes to New York's overall mental health system," said
Sharon Carpinello, R.N., Ph.D., Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental
Health. "We have seen improved access to mental health services, improved
coordination of service planning, enhanced accountability, and improved collaboration
between the mental health and court systems.
- Dr.
Mary Barber, associate medical director of the Ulster County Mental Health Department in
New York, summarized why she feels AOT programs are so successful, As I've heard
many people say, Kendras Law is so effective in part because it makes providers
accountable, by both allowing and requiring communication, and by making them feel more
secure in taking very risky clients. Kendras Law essentially said that counties now
have responsibility over their most high-risk, high-need people. With that responsibility
comes the opportunity to exert more centralized control over housing, treatment, and case
management resources.
- Wisconsin
Circuit Court judge Ralph M. Ramirez described assisted outpatient treatment as a
"win-win-win situation." Judge Ramirez explained that assisted outpatient
treatment serves as a means of ensuring that individuals with a severe mental illness who
need treatment but who otherwise refuse it:
-are not arrested by law enforcement, which reduces the risk of injury and protects public
safety;
-are not institutionalized
in jails or hospitals, which saves money; and
-are
treated as patients in their communities, which preserves their dignity.
- Judge
Randy T. Rogers, from Butler, Ohio, sees many cases involving people with severe mental
illnesses. He calls AOT, "an effective tool to help sustain a group of individuals in
the community with persistent impairment in decision-making who would otherwise continue
to revolve through the doors of hospitals and jails."
- Fritz
Mielke, assistant corporation counsel for Waukesha County, Wisconsin, explained that his
county consistently uses assisted outpatient treatment and has seen a "net result of
enhanced compliance" and "a great reduction in recidivism."
For more on Gregorys Law,
including articles on the Katsnelson family, visit http://www.gregoryslaw.org/.