Commission on Mental Health Law Reform

About

The Commission was directed to conduct a comprehensive examination of Virginia's mental health laws and services and to study ways to use the law more effectively to serve the needs of people with mental illness, while respecting the interests of their families and communities.

Goals of reform include reducing the need for commitment by improving access to mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services, reducing criminalization of people with mental illness, making the process of involuntary treatment more fair and effective, enabling consumers of mental health services to have more choice over the services they receive, and helping young people with mental health problems and their families before these problems spiral out of control.

Contact Information

• Director of the Department of Legislative and Public Relations - Katya N. Herndon
  Office of the Executive Secretary
  Phone - (804) 786-7595

Background
Fact Sheet, Commission Goals, Presentations and Opening Remarks

Meeting Schedule
Meetings of the commission

Members

Reports

• Policy Reports
  • Progress Report of the Commission (2009)
  • Progress Report of the Commission (2008)
  • Preliminary Report of the Commission (2007)
    
• Research Reports
  • Statistical Report of Mental Health Proceedings in FY 2011
  • District Court Variations in Hearing Dispositions (2011)
  • Mandatory Outpatient Treatment: The First Two Years (2011)
  • Effects of Community Services on Hospitalization (2011)
  • Statistical Report on Mental Health Proceedings in FY 2010
  • District Court Variations in Hearing Dispositions (2010)
  • Merfish Report on Voluntary Admission (June, 2010)
  • CSB Emergency Evaluations (2008)
  • Barclay Report on Lengthening TDO Period (2008)
  • Civil Commitment Practices in Virginia (2007)
  • A Study of Civil Commitment Hearings Held in the Commonwealth of Virginia During May 2007 (2007)

Task Forces and Working Groups