Viewpoints: Law Allowing Judges To Order Mental Health Treatment Instead Of Jail Time Is Badly Needed — But Flawed
A selection of opinions on health care developments from around the state.
Los Angeles Times:
Mental Health Diversion Law: A Good Idea That Needs Some Work
Earlier this summer, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law allowing judges, at their discretion, to order community mental health treatment in lieu of prosecution for people accused of crimes. ... Although it seems inconceivable that a judge would ever dismiss murder or rape charges just because the defendant claims mental illness, the law does, in theory, make such a thing possible. (8/13)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Juvenile Court Is No Place For Kids — California Must Set A Minimum Age
California Senate Bill 439, authored by state Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, would exclude children age 11 and under from juvenile court prosecution, except for the most serious, violent offenses. The bill would protect young children from the negative impacts of formal justice system involvement. (Laura Garnette, 8/13)
Los Angeles Times:
How Young Is Too Young For Jail? California Doesn't Have An Answer, But It Should
A child of any age can be incarcerated here, and it’s not just theoretical. ...In 2016, hundreds of California children younger than 12 went to delinquency court, and 26 of them were sent on to probation camp to live among teenage offenders. (8/11)
The Mercury News:
What California Can Do Before The Gun Fires Again
Sounds of gunfire came from the darkness of a small park known for dog walks, not drug rips. Neighbors drew their blinds, tucked their children into bed, and worried. Some nights they called police. The gunman would be gone. The park would be empty — except for hundreds of witnesses. The “witnesses” I’m talking about were bullet casings. They were sprinkled around the grass like bird seed. (Jeff Rosen, 8/15)
Los Angeles Times:
Dialysis Patients Could Be In Jeopardy If Current Proposed Legislation Succeeds
There are two proposed pieces of legislation that if placed into law would leave myself and thousands of other dialysis patients across California with reduced access to care and the treatment we need to survive. Both Proposition 8, which will come before voters this fall, and state Senate Bill 1156, which is pending in the Legislature, would strip dialysis patients of the resources we need to live. (Sue Germaine, 8/16)
The Mercury News:
California Should Require Warning Labels On Soda
Despite sugar-industry-funded research that deliberately minimized the health risks of sugar consumption, a clear and compelling body of evidence now shows a strong relationship between consumption of sugary drinks and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart, liver, and dental diseases. ...A bill now pending in the state legislature (AB 1335) – based on ChangeLab Solutions’ model legislation – would require a safety warning on sugary-drink containers and at certain points of sale. (Benjamin Winig, 8/11)
The Wall Street Journal:
‘Between Hope And Fear’ Review: Anxieties Immune To Reason
We live in a world of risk and risk assessment. The trouble is that if you or your child happens to experience a one-in-a-million event, a remote possibility becomes a certainty. That’s good when it’s the lottery, bad when it’s a disease. Many people also increasingly distrust the “experts” who are judging risk, especially when it comes to a child’s well-being. It’s one of the reasons why some educated and well-intentioned parents are opting out of vaccination programs, despite clear scientific and epidemiological evidence against doing so. (William F. Bynum, 8/16)