California launched the "CARE Court" program today, aiming to quickly provide housing and medical aid to people with unattended schizophrenia and similar disorders. Currently active across seven counties including Orange and Riverside, its existence may bypass the need for individual consent, as reported by ABC7.
The program, proposed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, targets individuals publicly suffering from clear signs of psychosis. While it's celebrated by families who can now petition treatment for their affected loved ones, it has stirred controversy due its potential for coercion and narrow focus—primarily treating those with untreated schizophrenia and excluding severe depression, bipolar disorder, and standalone addiction as per ABC7.
Under CARE Court, first responders and family members can file petitions for adults they believe aren't capable of safe, unsupervised survival, due to either deteriorating mental health or the need for preventive services against relapse or grave disability leading to serious harm. Eligible individuals must possess a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis or other qualifying disorders, as mentioned by ABC7.
The role of California's court system is substantial in this initiative, with each county having a devoted civil court to review petitions and county behavioral health agencies tasked for eligibility assessment, according to California Courts Newsroom. Eligible individuals are allocated a lawyer and a support person of their choice. The court, if identifies the person as eligible, offers a voluntary plan involving housing, medication, counseling, and other social services, to them for up to a year, extendable by another year, as reported by ABC7.
Meanwhile, civil rights advocates are concerned that this initiative could impose treatments on the vulnerable. It permits a person who fails to complete the plan to be subjected to conservatorship and involuntary treatment or dismissed from the proceedings if they decline participation or agreement adherence. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Michael Begert believes rapport building and meaningful interaction with the candidates will be crucial for implementation, as noted by ABC7.
However, critics dispute the program's concentration on establishing a new court system, arguing for more investment in housing and existing services instead. Samuel Jain, a senior policy attorney at Disability Rights California, points out the insufficiency and inaccessibility of voluntary community-based services, underlining that although services are available, they aren't being utilized as per ABC7 report.
The program's future effectiveness in catering to its target demographic and resolving California's homelessness crisis is yet to unfold. Between 1,800 - 3,100 individuals are estimated to be eligible in the first seven counties, with statewide estimates ranging from 3,600 - 6,200 after Los Angeles County kicks off its program on December 1. All other California counties are anticipated to establish mental health courts by December 2024, according to California Courts Newsroom.
