Murphy, Blumenauer and Grisham Introduce Bipartisan Amendment to Expand Mental Health Courts

Press Release

U.S. Reps Tim Murphy, Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) will introduce a bipartisan amendment today to the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill that invests $2 million in crisis-intervention training for state and local law enforcement training, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and rehabilitation and community re-entry services.

The funding would be available as grants to law enforcement agencies through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.

All three members are scheduled to speak on the floor of the House in support of the amendment this afternoon.

Congressman Murphy's landmark Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 3717, helps expand mental health courts such as The Mental Health Court of Allegheny County located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, which he recently toured. The Allegheny mental health court reduced the rate of recidivism by 37.7 percent.

"By delivering a pathway to psychiatric care through collaboration between the mental health and criminal justice systems, mental health courts meet public safety and community restitution objectives with better outcomes than the traditional courtroom setting for those with serious mental illness that for too long have cycled in and out of court and jail," Rep. Tim Murphy said. "This important amendment helps expand this model of evidenced-based mental health treatment to millions of Americans across the country."

"The more resources and training we can provide law enforcement to improve their skills to interact with the public, the more likely crises will be resolved peacefully," Rep. Lujan Grisham said. "And the more non-violent, peaceful interactions police has with the public, the more we can strengthen trust between police and the public that they are sworn to protect."

"The mental health and criminal justice systems in this country are not working. Our jails are de facto institutions for the mentally ill. We warehouse and ignore people when instead we should provide health care and healing. We must invest in prevention, treatment, and tools to keep individuals with mental illness in the community, with the necessary services and supports," Rep. Blumenauer said. "This amendment would ensure our criminal justice and mental health systems have the funds they need to serve some of our most vulnerable individuals."

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