Edmonds – Snohomish County lawmaker Mary Helen Roberts (D-Lynnwood) was recently presented the Legislator of the Year Award for 2011 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Washington at their annual conference in Ellensburg.
“This award is given in recognition of Rep. Roberts’ continuous and tireless advocacy for mental health issues and support of those living with mental illnesses in Washington state,” said Jim Bloss, President of the Snohomish County affiliate of NAMI WA, during the presentation ceremony. “We are particularly grateful for her sponsorship of the Triage Facility legislation which created a humane, cost-effective alternative to the incarceration of suspects thought to be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness.”
Roberts was the prime sponsor of House Bill 1170, which strengthened the partnership between mental health providers and law enforcement state-wide. Passing 98-0, this “triage facility bill” allows law enforcement officers who encounter a person appearing to suffer from mental illness to admit the suspect to a state-certified triage facility for short-term detention and evaluation.
“This process ensures more appropriate care for the suspect,” said Roberts, “and it also decreases the burden on local jails that are often not equipped to properly handle the mentally-ill.”
Roberts has long been an advocate for treatment and rehabilitation of offenders, especially those who suffer mental health issues or developmental disabilities. Besides HB 1170, during the 2011 legislative session she also sponsored HB 1718 which allows counties with mental health courts to take jurisdiction over non-violent offenders diagnosed with a developmental disability or traumatic brain injury. This legislation was recommended by a public safety work group that identified ways to reduce recidivism.
“Protecting the public starts with reducing crime,” said Roberts. “Reducing crime can sometimes result from something as simple as getting proper medical treatment for a person suffering from an illness or a traumatic brain injury.”