Colorado lawmakers want fewer people awaiting trial in jail
“It’s really about access to justice,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver who serves as vice chair on the House Judiciary Committee. Herod said her goal is to “dismantle the racism and the classism” that exists within Colorado’s criminal justice system." Read full article #criminaljustice #LeslieHerod #prisonpopulation #cashbond #mentalhealth
Denver mayor blames President Trump for economic slowdown as he unveils tight city budget
"For example, organizers originally expected $45 million from a new sales tax for mental health and addiction services. But a weaker economy has dropped those expectations to $36 million for the year, according to Rep. Leslie Herod, a leader of the “Caring 4 Denver” effort." Read full article #LeslieHerod #Caring4Denver #mentalhealth #BoldlyForward
Denver to strengthen mental health, drug abuse treatment
"In bolstering treatment options in the city and county, Caring 4 Denver will focus funding on housing for those in need of mental health or substance abuse treatment, as well as training for first responders, Will Fenton, legislative liaison Denver Department of Health and Environment, said Wednesday. Through this effort, the foundation hopes to reduce homelessness, improve long-term recovery, and curb the use of jails and emergency room visits." Read full article #mentalhea
New state behavioral health laws
"House Bill 1193" “Behavioral Health Supports For High-risk Families” provides access to intensive substance use treatment to women up to one year after giving birth, and creates pilot child care programs for women in treatment." "Sponsors: Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo" "Signed: May 23" Read full article #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #addiction #opioids
Community groups will begin taking on 911 calls and low-level cases from the Denver DA
"Herod remembered the man asking if he was going to jail." “They said, ‘No, we’re not going to take you to jail. We want you to talk to CAHOOTS,'” she said. “Once law enforcement secured the scene, CAHOOTS stepped in.” "The cops left, and the civilian team spent time speaking to the man. They convinced him take a counseling appointment and he was allowed to stay home after the four-hour call concluded. His family, she recalled, was “more than relieved.” “I’m just glad I have
The cost of caring for mentally ill inmates
"State spending on mental health care for prison inmates has nearly quadrupled in the past two decades. Expenditures on the Colorado Department of Corrections’ “mental health subprogram” increased from about $4.4 million in fiscal year 2000-01 to nearly $17 million in fiscal year 2017-18, the department reports. Subprogram expenses include mental health clinician salaries and contracts for psychiatric services but do not cover the cost of psychiatric medications." "Nationwide
From bail reform to restoring voting rights and sealing records, Colorado’s criminal justice system
“We’re not rehabilitating people. We’re just cycling in and out through different systems and then back in,” said state Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat who is pushing many of the criminal justice measures. “And we have to change that.” "Many of the criminal justice bills sailing through the General Assembly this year aren’t necessarily new concepts, but Democrats are taking advantage of their new majority, flexing political muscle to make strides on other long-debated is
Denver voted for funding for hunger, mental health and other programs and now city council has put t
"Almost $12 million was appropriated for the healthy food fund and $37 million for Caring 4 Denver for 2019. The parks fund got just over $37 million and the college fund almost $12 million for the year." "Denver voters approved a citizen-led initiative to increase the sales tax by .08 percent to create the healthy kids fund. A 13-member Denver Food Commission will be created to review applications and make grants to nonprofits and others who are already feeding kids from low
To Fund Mental Health Care, States and Cities Raise Taxes
“State Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver spearheaded that city’s campaign. She initially envisioned a proposal that would focus narrowly on stopping the city’s jails from being a de facto public mental health provider. But after talking to more people and traveling around the state, she realized that the city needed a more robust response. “The Denver school district has one of the highest suicide rates in the country,” Herod says. “We don’t have enough funding for therapists in ou
How the death by suicide of a 9-year-old boy has changed a community in the wake of tragedy
"Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod, who had founded Caring 4 Denver right before Jamel took his life, took similarly swift action after his death. “When I started Caring 4 Denver, I wasn’t focused on suicide,” Herod tells Yahoo Lifestyle. But Jamel’s death changed that. Now, Caring 4 Denver will raise $45 million per year to fund mental health and addiction services for children and adults, a large amount of which will go to aiding youth, including for suicide preven
