How Oregon effectively criminalized severe mental illness | The Story | April 23, 2024

April 23 on The Story: There are two ways that a person with severe mental illness can be compelled to get treatment in Oregon. The first is through a process called "civil commitment," where doctors and a judge can order involuntary care. The second is through the criminal justice system. Over the last five years, the civil route has all but vanished in Oregon — nearly all of the Oregon State Hospital's patients are there after committing a crime. And with treatment of acute mental illness left to local institutions, four of the state's largest hospital systems are suing the Oregon Health Authority over the "neglect" of civil commitment patients.

Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory
Follow The Story on Twitter:   / thestorykgw  
Follow The Story on Instagram:   / thestorykgw