Colorado Mental Health Laws Redone

Major changes for how people in Colorado with mental health illnesses are treated by law enforcement. Governor Hickenlooper signed a bill today overhauling parts of the state's mental health system.

The new law ends the practice of putting people who are in crisis in jail. Colorado had been one of only six states that jailed people experiencing a mental health crisis.

The legislature created a $7.5 million fund using revenue from the marijuana tax to create a statewide crisis response system that will include walk-in centers and mobile response teams.

Nearly 1220,000 people across the state have sought help at one of the state's 11 walk-in centers over the past year.

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The new law forbids officials from using jails to house people considered a threat to themselves or others.

Photo Governor's Office