Reforming

Editorial Perspective: The Delicate Balancing Act of Reforming Involuntary Commitment Laws

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In states across the U.S., the use of involuntary commitment laws, designed to mandate treatment for individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others due to mental illness, is being intensely scrutinized. These laws, pivotal in mental health crisis interventions, raise significant questions about civil liberties and the balance between individual rights and community safety. Involuntary commitment, or civil commitment, involves detaining a person with mental health disorders in a psychiatric hospital against their will—predicated on evaluations by mental health professionals and adherence to legal criteria. These measures are most common when a person is … Read more

Colorado Task Force Calls for Reforming Definition of Criminal Child Abuse and Neglect to Protect Vulnerable Children

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DENVER, Colorado – A task force in Colorado is calling for changes in the state’s definition of criminal child abuse and neglect as part of its efforts to reform mandatory reporting laws. In a recent 12-page report, the task force members argued that the current definition is too broad and fails to distinguish between circumstances such as poverty or homelessness and actual instances of neglect and abuse. The task force, established in 2022 following an investigation into the death of 7-year-old Olivia Gant, plans to spend 11 hours in January and February of this year … Read more