My son Rasheed has suffered unimaginable trauma due to systemic failures within our mental health and criminal justice systems. When experiencing a mental health crisis, he was met not with compassion and care, but with excessive police force that violated his civil rights. Even though he needed urgent mental health support and intervention, Rasheed ended up incarcerated, where he endured significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm.

Rasheed's experience is not unique. The closure of state psychiatric hospitals following the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 left millions like him vulnerable. With insufficient community-level mental health services, individuals with mental illnesses are often funneled into the criminal justice system rather than receiving the necessary care and support. Statistics reveal that approximately 15% of men and 30% of women booked into jails have a serious mental health condition, highlighting the desperate need for reform.

Introducing Rasheed's Act Bill: The Mental Health Crises Evaluation and Diversion Act aims to address this critical issue by requiring law enforcement to receive specialized training to identify and respond to mental health crises compassionately. This legislation will ensure that individuals like Rasheed receive a safety plan and are diverted to appropriate mental health care facilities, rather than being incarcerated. May Rasheed #RIP 6-20-2026

We must forge a path toward comprehensive mental health care solutions, facilitating the establishment of community-based mental health facilities that effectively serve those in need. Additionally, by ensuring law enforcement officers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle such situations sensitively, we can protect the rights and well-being of affected individuals.

It is time to break the cycle of trauma perpetuated by current practices. Rasheed's Law represents a crucial step forward in advocating for the basic human rights and dignity of individuals with mental health conditions.

Join me in supporting Rasheed’s Law. Sign this petition to bring about change that prioritizes mental health intervention over imprisonment and helps build a more humane, compassionate approach to crisis management.