Judge Petitions to Stop Closure of Mental Health Hospital

http://savannahnow.com/node/700135

A mental health hospital was due to be closed but judges stepped in to stop the closure.

Excerpt: Now that judges have signed on to a petition seeking to delay the closure - judges who represent the interests of the state - Gov. Sonny Perdue must order a measured implementation of mental health reforms.

Thousands of advocates for the mentally ill, fearing a reduced level of care and negative outcomes, have signed a petition calling for maintaining acute care beds in Georgia Regional hospitals in Savannah and elsewhere, for at least another six months. They are right and their voices should be heard in Atlanta.

Now, respected members of the judiciary have added their voices to that call. Among them is Superior Court Judge Penny Haas Freesemann, who presides over the Chatham County Mental Health Court.

Judge Freesemann's court shepherds mentally ill offenders to the care and support they need to avoid future run-ins with the law. While she is only one judge in one county, state leaders should listen to her concerns.