Concluded: Commission on Mental Health Law Reform

About
The Commission on Mental Health Law Reform was appointed by Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr., of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in October, 2006. The Commission was directed to conduct a comprehensive examination of Virginia's mental health laws and services and to study ways to use the law more effectively to serve the needs of people with mental illness, while respecting the interests of their families and communities.

Goals of reform included reducing the need for commitment by improving access to mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services, reducing criminalization of people with mental illness, making the process of involuntary treatment more fair and effective, enabling consumers of mental health services to have more choice over the services they receive, and helping young people with mental health problems and their families before these problems spiraled out of control.

The Commission issued a preliminary report in December, 2007 which outlined a blueprint for reform and identified specific priorities for consideration by the 2008 Session of the General Assembly. The Commission issued progress reports in 2008, and 2009.  A final report was not issued. The work of the Commission on Mental Health Law Reform concluded in 2011.

Archived Resources

• Commission Goals
• Commission Members
• Fact Sheet on Commission
• Members of the Commission's Task Forces and Working Groups
• Opening Remarks by Professor Bonnie at Commission Meetings in October, 2006 and June, 2007
• Presentation by Professor Bonnie to Virginia Tech Review Panel, July 18, 2007
• Joint Commission on Health Care
  • Senate Joint Resolution 42 (2008)
    Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to receive, review, and evaluate the impact of certain recommendations and legislation on the mental health system in the Commonwealth.
  • Senate Document 3 (2010)
    Final Report: Impact of Recent Legislation on Virginia’s Mental Health System [SJR 42 (2008)]
  • Senate Document 3 (2009)
    Interim Report: Impact of Recent Legislation on Virginia's Mental Health System [SJR 42 (2008)]

Archived Reports

• Progress Reports
  • Progress Report of the Commission (2009)
  • Progress Report of the Commission (2008)
  • Preliminary Report of the Commission (2007)
  • Reports to the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) Pursuant to SJR 42 (2008)
    • Progress Report to JCHC (2011)
    • Progress Report to JCHC  (2010)
    • Progress Report to JCHC (2009)
    • Bonnie Statement to JCHC  (2008)
  • Reports of the Commission's Task Forces and Working Groups
• Research Reports
  • 2013
    • Decisions to Initiate Involuntary Commitment: The Role of Intensive Community Services and Other Factors
  • 2012
    • Use of Longer Periods of Temporary Detention to Reduce Mental Health Civil Commitments
  • 2011
    • Statistical Report of Mental Health Proceedings in FY 2011
    • The Effect of Community Mental Health Services on Hospitalization Rates in Virginia
    • District Court Variations in Hearing Dispositions
    • Mandatory Outpatient Treatment: The First Two Years
  • 2010
    • Statistical Report on Mental Health Proceedings in FY 2010
    • District Court Variations in Hearing Dispositions
    • Merfish Report on Voluntary Admission
  • 2008
    • CSB Emergency Evaluations
    • Barclay Report on Lengthening TDO Period
    • A Study of Civil Commitment Hearings Held in the Commonwealth of Virginia During May 2007
  • 2007
    • Civil Commitment Practices in Virginia