​For individuals with mental disabilities, encounters with law enforcement can quickly escalate into serious situations. Issues with communication can exacerbate the problem. Individuals with communication barriers can be arrested or even become the victims of the use of force by a police officer solely as a result of their disability. The passage of Ohio’s House Bill 115hopes to help avoid dangerous situations between police officers and individuals with communication disabilities.
 
Communication Disability Registry
 
Under the law, which went into effect in August of last year, any individual with a disability that affects their communications skills can voluntarily submit a verification form which would identify them as having a communication disability. The form requires a physician’s signature verifying the communication disability and a parent’s signature if the individual is under 18 years old. This information is placed in the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) and made available to all state and local law enforcement officers. When a police officer runs an individual’s driver’s license or license plate, the information about the communication disability should be indicated. Only general information about the communication disability is disclosed and not the diagnosis of the individual.
 
Communication disabilities can range from hearing impairment to conditions such as PTSD and autism. These conditions are not always understood by law enforcement officers and can become barriers to effective communication. The availability of a registry identifying an individual's communication issue can go a long way toward preventing the escalation of law enforcement interactions. However, along with the information in the registry, law enforcement needs to be given the proper training on how to interact with individuals who have communication disabilities.
 
Participation in the registry is entirely voluntary, and Ohio is taking steps to increase awareness of the program. Law enforcement and other agencies have used social media and other avenues to spread the word. The program will only have a significant impact on the quality of police interactions if it is utilized in a widespread manner.
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental disabilities. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.

​Mental health on college campuses has gained more awareness. An increasing number of college students suffer from mental health issues and require help from professionals. A 2014 National Survey of College Counseling Centersfound that 52% of the respondent’s clients had severe psychological problems. As a result, colleges are expanding services for students battling conditions such as depression and anxiety. Better and accessible screening, as well as earlier diagnosis, are important factors in improving the quality of mental health care on college campuses.
 
Accessible Screening and Services
 
Late adolescence and early adulthood are times when many mental health issues begin to manifest. Therefore, in addition to adjusting to college life, many students are coping with the onset of conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Many students may not know what is happening to them, and it is important for college campuses to conduct screenings to determine whether a student is in need of help. On-campus screenings for possible depression and other conditions can help point students towards services.In addition, access to crisis care can be essential to students with mental disabilities. Crisis hotlines staffed with after hour counselors can be used to triage issues and direct students in crisis to the services they need.
 
The most important quality in mental health services on campus is accessibility to all students. Many campuses simply don't have enough staff to accommodate the students who need help, and students languish on waiting lists. Ensuring that mental health centers have adequate numbers of properly trained staff to help students is an essential duty of any college campus.
 
Early Diagnosis
 
In addition to accessibility, it is important that the staff in campus mental health centers are adequately trained to recognize the symptoms of serious mental illness in college students. Individuals with conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder benefit from early treatment and diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis can lead to serious problems with academics and social skills and can lead to college students failing to succeed. If staff are adequately prepared to treat the mental illness of college students, they should have the capability of referring students to providers in the community who can help.
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental disabilities. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.

​It has become a cliché to say that the jail and prison systems in the United States have become the largest mental health facilities in the country. Mental illness runs rampant throughout correction facilities, and frequently county jails become dumping grounds for those with mental illness. Most jailers don't have the appropriate training to handle inmates with mental illness, and this can result in tragic consequences. Texas has initiated a mental health training program that can hopefully give jailers better tools for dealing with the unique challenges presented by inmates with mental illness.
 
Training Program
 
At the Brazos County Detention Center, jailers from four Texas counties underwent training on techniques for dealing with inmates who have mental disabilities. Master trainers from the Sheriff’s Office, along with a case manager from the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMR) helped to conduct the training which had been developed by the National Institute of Corrections and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas.
 
During the training, actors were used to help demonstrate the situations jailers may encounter with a prisoner with mental illness. In one instance an “inmate” told the jailer that he wanted to be moved to a different cell because the loud sounds of the slamming doors were hard for him to deal with. The jailer spoke calmly to the “inmate” and quickly determined that the “inmate” was a military veteran suffering from PTSD. The jailer was then taught techniques on how to be empathetic and helpful to the “inmate” rather than dismissive. 
 
The officers undergoing these training sessions hope to become certified for serving on jail crisis intervention teams. Brazos County’s jail currently has two or three crisis trained deputies on every shift to help handle escalated situations often involving inmates with mental disabilities. These crisis intervention teams meet once a week to discuss the special needs of the inmates and those who have mental health and behavioral issues. 
 
While Brazos County has made real strides towards training their jailers on how to address the needs of mentally disabled inmates, the program is not widespread enough. Jails across the country need to provide comprehensive training to their officers on how to handle crisis situations and the special needs of these inmates. 
 
If you or a loved one has a mental disability and has been arrested or convicted of a crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. Elizabeth Kelley specializes in representing individuals with mental illness or intellectual/developmental disability. To schedule a consultation call (509) 991-7058.