Legislative Action Center
Send a Letter to Our Elected Officials Today to Encourage the Continued Support of Criminal Justice and Mental Health Initiatives
December 28, 2009
On December 18, 2009, Governor Timothy M. Kaine unveiled his proposal for the 2010-2012 biennial budget that will be submitted for consideration by the 2010 General Assembly. Among the numerous cuts that were designated to fill a $3 billion budget shortfall was the reduction of jail diversion funding from $3 million annually to $2 million annually.
In addition to budget cuts, Virginia will be seeing a transition of administrations in the coming weeks and it is of the utmost importance that Governor-elect Robert F. McDonnell and his staff hear from the countless criminal justice and mental health professionals, and consumer and family advocates on the importance of these issues.
The inappropriate incarceration of individuals with mental illness has disproportionately impacted Virginia's local and regional jails. A 2009 survey by the Commonwealth's Compensation Board reported that 17.6% of inmates were identified as having a mental illness. Breaking those numbers down even more, it was reported that 14.7% of males and 38.5% of females were identified as having a mental illness.
Virginia has made great strides over the past 3 years in working to provide services to justice-involved individuals with mental illness. Let us act together as one and put Criminal Justice and Mental Initiatives at the forefront of our elected officials' minds.
You can learn more about the budget proposal by visiting the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget website and about the Compensation Board survey by visiting their website.
Act Now!
We need your help to ensure that these vitally important initiatives are maintained across the Commonwealth. Please contact your Delegates, Senators, and the Governor-elect today and urge them to remove the budget cuts for jail diversion and keep all criminal justice and mental health initiatives a high priority.
Please select one of the support letters below, edit as you wish, print off a copy on your letterhead, sign it and mail it to your local Delegate, Senator, and Governor-elect. Addresses for all can be found in the links below.
Who is my Virginia elected official?
Thank You!!!