The first public meeting of the Michigan House’s mental health task force will be held Monday in Livingston County. State Representative Hank Vaupel of Fowlerville is the co-chair of the panel. He told Michigan News Network the need to address the link between mental health and crime is critical.
“Nationally, about 63% of the people in county jails would be classified, at some point, as heaving a mental illness,” Vaupel said. “In the state prison systems, it’s not quite that high, but it’s really a high number. They can’t really help themselves without getting some help.”
Vaupel, a Republican, says the panel will meet in Howell. It will focus on community treatment, mental health from the law enforcement and veterans perspective and its role in overall health care.
