Countywide Mental Health Commission Established
On January 11, Dilma Franks-Spruill was stabbed to death on Eighth Street in Oakland while she was walking home from work. Wilbert Winchester, the man charged with the crime, had been diagnosed with bipolarity and schizophrenia when he was 17.
The case is one of the hundreds being addressed by a newly created 26-member commission this month forged by Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price to "find new pathways to support families and our community dealing with loved ones who suffer from serious mental illnesses and are court involved."
Alameda County's current 2022-23 budget includes $620.5 million for Behavioral Health Care, which includes programs such as those addressing psychiatric issues, substance abuse, and support and advocacy for families. The District Attorney said she acknowledged the lack of resources to address the needs of residents with mental health issues caught up in the court system. Already her office has created several collaborative courts and initiatives as alternatives to incarceration, focusing on rehabilitation, education, and intervention for individuals caught up in the criminal justice system.
"We want to treat people suffering from mental health issues with the care and responsible justice they deserve," DA Price said in a statement. "The creation of this commission is just the beginning in effecting change. It won't happen overnight, but rest assured, this is a step in the right direction in providing alternatives to mass incarceration."
The ideas and input from the commission are expected to educate and inspire the DA's Office to improve how the system currently operates, how to expand the services, and how to address behavioral health courts. DA Price says she is committed to increasing the capacity and support available to all county residents through programs like the CARES Navigation Center in Oakland.
For a personal perspective, DA Price met with the families of Franks-Spruill and Winchester, along with Oakland Mayor, City Councilmembers, and mental health professionals.
"We need to find a way to get our loved one's care – not cages," said Kimberly Graves, a member of Alameda County's Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill (FASMI). "Far too often, the only time our family members get treatment is with a criminal sentence, and all the additional baggage that comes with it doesn't help their recovery. There must be a better path to recovery and care in our county."
The commission met for the first time on February 9. Additional meetings are planned throughout the year.