Assemblyman Will Hold Public Hearing on Law Enforcement and Mentally Ill Supects

Assembly Member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City) will seek public testimony from health, mental health and law enforcement experts to examine protocols and procedures for law enforcement interactions with mentally ill residents when he co-chairs the Assembly Joint Hearing of the Select Committee on Mental & Behavioral Health and Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment on Tuesday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Southern Missionary Baptist Church, 4678 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas said, "The hearing will discuss interactions between law enforcement and persons with mental illnesses. We need a greater understanding of the current training of law enforcement personnel and other first responders as they regularly and increasingly face interactions with mentally ill persons."

Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas will co-chair the Joint Hearing with state Assembly Member Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-59th - Southeast Los Angeles) co-chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment committee and Chair of the Assembly Committee on Budget Subcommittee 5 on Public Safety.

"This hearing will allow stakeholders to report on updates to best practices and strategic opportunities for addressing this crisis. Our conversation is a critical component of emerging issues in reducing recidivism, increasing productivity and efficiency, and targeting populations that are most in need. Veterans represent a significant portion of the population suffering from mental illness on the streets of Los Angeles," Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas said.

Mental health advocates and providers, representatives of California's courts and justice system, and law enforcement agencies are expected to provide testimony at the joint hearing.

The joint hearing comes at a time when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is conducting an investigation into a CHP officer's controversial July 1 arrest of a woman pedestrian apprehended on the shoulder of the Interstate 10 Freeway near the La Brea exit in Los Angeles.