Stanislaus County survey asks residents for opinion on Laura’s Law

Stanislaus County is conducting an online survey, asking residents for their opinion on the proposal to adopt Laura’s Law.

The state law would allow the county to seek court-ordered outpatient treatment for people with mental disorders who are considered a threat to others.

In other counties that have adopted Laura’s Law, adults referred to the program have a history of refusing treatment, resulting in hospitalization or incarceration, violent behavior or threats of violence.

The law is named for Laura Wilcox, who was killed in Nevada County by a delusional man who had repeatedly refused treatment for mental illness.

Stanislaus County has held discussions on the proposal at five community meetings, and a consultant hired by the county is gathering info on the pros and cons of the law. The consultant is expected to deliver a report to county leaders in August or September.

County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and is looking for input from the public.

The online survey is intended for residents who did not attend one of the Laura’s Law community forums. The survey will run until June 25.

To participate in the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LauraLaw. The same survey for Spanish speakers is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LauraLawSp.

This story was originally published June 9, 2017 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County survey asks residents for opinion on Laura’s Law."