A new California law set to take effect in January seeks to enhance Governor Gavin Newsom’s mental health court initiative, which some program advocates label a failure.
The CARE court program, designed to connect individuals with mental health issues and homelessness to treatment, is reportedly serving far fewer individuals than initially projected, showing no marked improvement in street conditions since it began in 2023, based on findings from a CalMatters report.
Launched in 2023, the CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment) court allows families, first responders, and healthcare providers to seek judicial orders for treatment instead of awaiting criminal charges for these individuals.
Newsom hailed the CARE court as a “paradigm shift,” aiming to improve conditions in cities facing challenges with large numbers of individuals struggling with mental illness and substance addiction, notably Los Angeles and San Francisco.
He expressed his frustration with the ongoing issues, stating, “I have no sympathy for people defecating and urinating in the middle of the street with their clothes off, screaming and talking to themselves. I’m getting more and more angry about what’s going on in the city. I’m tired of it.”
However, despite an expenditure of approximately $328 million on the CARE court, only 684 “treatment agreements” (which are voluntary commitments to seek help) were finalized, along with a mere 22 court-mandated plans by October, according to CalMatters.
Anita Fisher, a former advocate for the CARE court, criticized the initiative, calling it a “complete failure,” especially as she has a son dealing with severe mental illness.
In 2024, California plans to expand the mental health conditions covered by the CARE court among other efforts to engage a broader range of individuals.
Initially, projections estimated that between 7,000 to 12,000 individuals would seek help through CARE courts statewide, but as of October, there had only been 3,092 petitions submitted, with many being dismissed, particularly in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Critics allege that ineffective policies favoring voluntary treatment over enforcement and a lack of resources have resulted in the CARE courts aiding only a few, despite their considerable costs. The Congressional Judiciary Committee has labeled the initiative as “very expensive,” estimating it costs around $713,000 per participant.
The report from CalMatters indicates that many participants are falling through the cracks, leaving families feeling disillusioned and unsupported.
In defense of the program, Newsom’s office attributed challenges to county-level execution. A spokesperson stated, “Coercion rarely works for people who need care.” They further explained that many participants alternate between the criminal justice system and treatment, hindering their ability to achieve stability.
Newsom’s office also highlighted discrepancies in petition counts and showcased successful outcomes in areas like Humboldt and San Diego.
“The public is demanding action, and the county must listen and act quickly, or voters will act on their behalf,” the spokesperson added. “There is no excuse for counties to underperform, and the disparity in implementation we are currently seeing is completely unacceptable.”
