Comment on The majority of Oklahomans with mental illness who are in jail would be better served outside criminal justice system, state lea

The majority of Oklahomans with mental illness who are in jail would be better served outside criminal justice system, state lea

By Jaclyn Cosgrove, Staff WriterA backlog of Tulsa County inmates continue to wait for competency evaluations as law enforcement and mental health leaders discuss the best course of action to take, Oklahoma’s mental health commissioner said Friday. Commissioner Terri White, who leads the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, said at the agency’s board meeting that she and Tulsa County officials are discussing how to best serve inmates in the jail who suffer from mental illnesses and substance abuse. In Tulsa County, an estimated 300 to 400 inmates are on psychotropic medication, but only about 15 inmates need competency evaluations and services. “Just because you have a mental illness, just because you’re receiving psychotropic medication doesn’t mean that you’re not competent — ‘competent’ as the statute defines it — to aid in your own defense should criminal proceedings continue,” White said. In February, Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott dropped a contempt-of-court proceeding after White promised he will be notified promptly if a mentally incompetent criminal defendant is not provided treatment in a reasonable time.Read more on NewsOK.com

 

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