Hot Topics in Mental Health & Law: Civil Commitment series
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 12:00–1:00 p.m. PT
Webinar description
Shadoe Jones, JD, will provide a foundation on the history of civil commitment and its evolution in the United States. This presentation will address the historical evolution and current practices of civil commitment, highlighting how these systems have changed in response to advances in psychiatry and medicine, shifting social attitudes, and changes in economic policies. Jones will review current civil commitment procedures nationwide and examine how Washington state’s approach compares with other states, offering a critical perspective on this complex and evolving intersection of law and healthcare.
Learning objectives
- Understand the development of and changes in civil commitment practices.
- Identify the current civil commitment procedures and standards implemented across the United States, including variations and commonalities.
- Analyze how civil commitment practices in Washington state differ from and align with those in other states
About the speaker
Shadoe Jones, JD, advises on key policy considerations, collaborates with legislative partners, and provides legal counsel to advocate for the improvement of state and federal laws and systems of care to benefit individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) with the Treatment Advocacy Center. Previously, Jones served as a criminal defense attorney for those with SMI in Arizona. She advocated for resolutions that acknowledged the role of SMI, included treatment, and mitigated the impact of criminal charges on the individual’s future and access to benefits. Jones has been active in grassroots efforts to reduce barriers to treatment and the criminalization of SMI within Arizona. Jones received her juris doctor from Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Delaware.