“Competency dockets” at Colorado courts are linking people with mental illness to community-based services, reducing recidivism and improving community safety

This is the kind of thing I love to see my tax dollars support.

This is encouraging news. I’m very glad to hear it’s going well. I think it highlights the importance of supporting leaders who back and participate in such initiatives.

The article mentions it would be great if police had the ability to take such individuals somewhere other than jail. But I really think it's challenging to expect significant shifts in traditional enforcement practices. That puts even more of a strain on police to also be experts in evaluating the fitness of citizens. Which they shouldn’t be (at this point in history, where police officers are not trained well to handle mental health issues), even if a citizen is known to them (many reported here are repeating offenders). I think Colorado might show the most potential for change or other states however. Most states it seems are more concerned with which bathrooms kids are using and what books they can ban, rather than actually making life better, like these folks in the judicial system.

I am preparing to work in community mental health, and it's just abundantly clear that the underlying social issues contributing to justice-related and justice-impacted individuals will persist. A different approach is needed beyond what current systems offer.

The article could be clearer and more polished, but it's valuable that this topic is gaining attention.

If you are having trouble understanding all this, just keep in mind what the other poster said: tax dollars at work. Keep voting for the judges and public servants who prioritize this issue. So they can stay on and see it through. It won’t be solved in our lifetimes, likely, but we can plant the trees today that will shade future generations.