First Contact: Mental Illness and Public Safety in Arizona

REGISTER HERE

Jan. 6, 2012

8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

ASU Downtown Phoenix

Event sponsored by

Morrison Institute for Public Policy

and Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy

Arizona State University

One year after an untreated mentally ill person allegedly shot 18 people at a Tucson grocery store, killing 6 and gravely wounding Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others, we assemble experts to discuss the critical intersection between law enforcement and health care and to ponder what can be done in our communities to reduce the possibilities of future January 8ths. We will explore the proper  balance between public safety and public health systems — focusing on the “first contact” between law enforcement officers (or other citizens) and individuals with mental illness who appear dangerous to themselves or others. We will consider Arizona’s current statutory/policy context and best practices in other states, while considering statutory and/or policy changes Arizona should pursue.

Speakers/panelists/presenters:

• Dr. Joel Dvoskin, Ph.D., forensic psychologist with expertise in in treatment of persons with serious mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders
• Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney
• Dr. Chris Carson, M.D., CEO of ConnectionsAZ
• Charles Arnold, partner in Frazer, Ryan, Goldberg, & Arnold, L.L.P., and specialist in behavioral-health law
• Officer Nick Margiotta, Phoenix Police Department liaison with the regional behavioral health care system  
• Dr. Michael S. Shafer, Ph.D, professor and director, ASU Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy
• William Hart, senior policy analyst, Morrison Institute for Public Policy
• Sue Clark-Johnson, executive director, Morrison Institute for Public Policy 

Event location:

Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

555 N. Central Avenue, Auditorium 128

Phoenix, Arizona

Registration/Information

•  Event admission: No charge, but registration is required.
• Parking: Space reserved for $3 per hour at ASU Visitor Lot on East Fillmore Street between 1st Street and Central Avenue, directly north of the Cronkite School of Journalism building.
  (Inform the attendant that you are attending the forum; disregard “lot full” sign, if it is out.) Questions: Call 602-496-1023