Due to a lack of funding caused by major state budget cuts, people suffering from severe mental health disabilities in Nevada are at risk of being released into the general population. This is unsafe for everyone.

According to Treatmentadvocacy.com, in the state of Nevada, residents with severe mental illness are 91% more likely to be incarcerated and have only a 9% chance of hospitalization. Where they experience a cycle of release and incarceration. This means that by far the largest mental health facilities in the state are detention centers that are not equipped to manage the requirements of this population. Patients need secure facilities that provide medications, doctor supervision, counseling to work towards self-sufficiency, and professional assessment.

We demand that our representatives find a solution to the immediate crisis in Carson City, Nevada caused by the potential release of Oscar Lee Aimon an autistic teen, who is legally incompetent and currently in the custody of Carson City Sheriff’s Department. Due to funding reductions there are no beds available for Oscar in a state mental health facility. Oscar has the mental capacity of a 3 year old. He requires 24 aid.

No one wants Oscar on the streets, but that’s where he will end up if Medicare continues to refuse to authorize his care and if no one can find a bed for him at a state facility.

You can’t incarcerate someone indefinitely unless they’ve committed a horrible crime. Why do we continue to roll the dice that it won’t be our loved one who is the victim? We have a solution. Demand more beds in mental health facilities where the severely mentally ill can be cared for until they are assessed safe. Instead of demonizing the person who is ill, let’s fix the system that puts both the healthy and the ill at risk.

We also implore:

The Carson City Sheriff's Department not to release Oscar on to the streets of our city
The Department of Aging and Disability to immediately find space for Oscar at a mental health facility either in or out of state, so that the sheriff doesn’t have to release him
Our Representatives to commit to finding permanent solutions to support the severely disabled in our community to ensure the safety of all Nevada residents
Medicaid to protect our communities by supporting inpatient treatment over incarceration because incarceration leads to eventual release and solves nothing.