The Committee
Supervisor Andy Kunasek serves as Vice-Chair for the Commission of Justice System Intervention for the Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI Commission). His colleague on the Board, Supervisor Don Stapley, District 2, formed the commission and serves as Chair. Committee members include Secretary of State Jan Brewer, Senator Carolyn Allen, Lindy Funkhouser, David Hendershott and Judge Barbara Mundell. (Supervisor Kunasek also chairs a special sub-committee that works with Governor Napolitano.)
The Objective
It is the objective of the SMI Commission to remove the seriously mentally ill population from the overcrowded county jails and transfer them to treatment programs. Of the 9,000 inmates in the county jail system, 23% are mentally ill. Existing pilot programs around country have indicated that with proper treatment programs, the mentally ill can stay out of jail and function in society.