Rethinking Competency to Stand Trial: A Complicated Road to Mental Health Treatment
February 17, 2021
The competency to stand trial process is designed to protect the rights of people who do not understand the charges against them and are unable to assist in their own defense. But this process has become overburdened and delayed, causing people to languish in jail while states contend with the high associated costs.
We spoke with legal and mental health experts about why this issue is so important at a time when mental health needs are climbing among Americans and state finances are significantly strained. Watch the video below, and dig deeper by checking out our recent report Just and Well: Rethinking How States Approach Competency to Stand Trial.
About the Author
Former Public Affairs Manager, Communications and External Affairs
Ruvi
Lopez
managed
stakeholder
engagement
and
strategic
support
for
the
CSG
Justice
Center’s
Communications
and
External
Affairs
team.
He
was
also
responsible
for
media
relations
management,
digital
engagement,
and
supporting
the
development
of
long-range
strategies
to
guide
public
affairs
and
...
communications
initiatives.
In
his
previous
role
as
director
of
communications
for
Mainland
Media,
Ruvi
cultivated
meaningful
relationships
with
key
New
York
stakeholders,
including
state
and
local
elected
officials,
community
advocates,
and
philanthropists,
through
coalition-building
efforts
to
address
housing,
economic,
and
racial
inequalities.
Over
the
last
12
years,
Ruvi
has
been
a
part
of
numerous
campaigns
to
raise
awareness
for
criminal
justice
reform
and
restorative
justice
practices
across
the
country.
Read More
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