Editorial: Use common sense in treating mentally ill

Monday, June 2, 2003 | 8:45 a.m.

Last week Gov. Kenny Guinn signed into law a bill that will permit police officers to take the mentally ill to psychiatric treatment centers rather taking them to emergency rooms or jails. The new law complements Metro Police's decision last year to train 35 officers to handle crisis situations involving the mentally ill. The past practice of locking up these individuals, or sending them off to traditional hospitals that lacked the ability to properly treat them, wasn't helping anyone. The mentally ill, who often in these cases are homeless, haven't been receiving the treatment they need to help them get better. They also have been placing a strain on hospitals and detention centers, all of which already are overcrowded as it is.

Another positive development is the Legislature's likely approval of the governor's proposal to build a $32 million, 150-bed psychiatric hospital in Southern Nevada. The actions taken by the Legislature and Metro Police are the kinds of progressive steps we need and that too frequently in the past have been found wanting in this state's dealings with the mentally ill.