Will Medicating the Mentally Ill Increase Public Safety?
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Not all of America's recent shootings have been blamed on the mentally ill, but they've raised suspicions. LA County Supervisors want the state to expand what's called "Laura's Law," designed to head off trouble by forcibly medicating people who might commit violent crimes. Are the mentally ill more violent than anyone else? Does Laura's Law make things better or worse? Also, mixed verdicts in the trial of former council members in the City of Bell and the State of Washington's new advisor on legalizing marijuana. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, will Cyprus be the Mouse that Roared in the Eurozone?
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Making News
Round One of Bell Verdicts Is In ()
A jury today found five former members of the Bell City Council guilty of misappropriating public funds by accepting pay for meetings of the Solid Waste and Recycling Authority. Prosecutors argued that it was established for the sole purpose of increasing their salaries. All five were acquitted on similar charges related to the Public Finance Authority. A sixth defendant, Pastor Luis Artiga, was acquitted on all counts. We hear from Ali Saleh, who was elected Mayor in the aftermath of the corruption scandal, and from State Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a member of BASTA, the Bell Association to Stop the Abuse.
Guests:
- Ali Saleh: City of Bell
- Cristina Garcia: California State Assembly, @votecristina
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Main Topic
Will Medicating the Mentally Ill Increase Public Safety? ()
The raft of multiple shootings around the country has LA County Supervisors asking the legislature to expand what's called "Laura's Law." It's named for a woman who worked at a mental health clinic in Nevada County and who was killed by a patient. The purpose of Laura's Law is to medicate mentally ill people who've been refusing treatment before they commit any crime. The legislature has not provided any funding and, so far, only Nevada County has implemented Laura's Law. But Los Angeles County does have a pilot program.
Guests:
- Mary Marx: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- Philip Chen: Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich
- Rusty Selix: Mental Health Association in California
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
How the State of Washington Should Roll Out Legal Pot ()
Voters in Colorado and Washington States have agreed to legalize marijuana, but nobody knows what the impact will be. That's according to UCLA Professor Mark Kleinman whose company BOTEC Analysis has been hired to consult on the implementation in Washington and determine what works and what doesn't.
Guests:
- Mark Kleiman: UCLA, @MarkARKleiman
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Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation.
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