Sedona AZ (June 10, 2016) – To paraphrase Stanley Adams’ popular 1934 song, “What A Difference A Day Makes”, the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley is hosting a panel discussion on “Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice and Mental Illness: What A Difference A Year Makes.” The panel will be part of Mental Health Monday on June 27 at 9AM at Yavapai College Sedona. According to Barbara Litrell, facilitator of the Coalition, “It’s been very exciting to see the many new programs and changes implemented in the Yavapai County Detention System over the past year, ranging from Mental Health Court to a Behavioral Health Unit at the jail and other significant programs that address law enforcement’s understanding and handling of situations and cases involving someone with mental illness. Our community needs to know about this good news.”
The panel will include Capt David Rhodes of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s office; Steve Gesell, Police Chief of Cottonwood; Mike Jordahl, Cottonwood City Prosecutor; Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Cele Hancock; Kennedy Klagge, Deputy Public Defender; April Razo, CEO of Spectrum Healthcare Group; and Angie Lozano of Angie’s House in Cottonwood. The group will share the new programs that have been implemented and expanded over the past year to address the issues that occur at the intersection of criminal justice and mental illness in Yavapai County. According to Capt. Rhodes, “Each day we are getting closer to the decriminalization of mental illness, we have a long way to go but we are moving in the right direction”
Following the panel, the Coalition will conduct its monthly business meeting from 11-12:15. For more information contact Barbara Litrell 649-0135 or blitrell@aol.com.
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