Oklahoma bill tackles law enforcement’s response to mental health calls
YEAH, THAT’S REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ROWE. AND SHE SAYS IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM THE AREA THAT…
YEAH, THAT’S REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ROWE. AND SHE SAYS IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM THE AREA THAT SHE REPRESENTS. AND EVEN KNEW SOME OF HER CONSTITUENTS. NOW SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HER NEW BILL, IF IT GETS PASSED, CAN HELP MAKE SURE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ANYONE WHO’S HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I THINK IT’S BRINGING LIGHT TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WE HAVE IN OKLAHOMA. I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO INCORPORATE SHANNON’S STORY INTO THIS LEGISLATION. THE SHANNON HANSHAW ACT OR HOUSE BILL 2157, WOULD ENCOURAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE 20% OF THEIR OFFICERS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION SO THAT IF THEY ENCOUNTER AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES THAT THEY COULD BE BETTER ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND CHOOSE THE CORRECT PATH FORWARD FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. THOUGH THE BILL WOULDN’T ACTUALLY CARRY ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENTS WROTE THINKS IT COULD IMPROVE OKLAHOMA’S MENTAL HEALTH SITUATION. MY GOAL IS TO TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATELY HANDLE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO APPEARS TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THE GROUP JUSTICE FOR SHANNON SENT ME A STATEMENT SAYING THIS BILL IS A PROMISING FIRST STEP, BUT WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD TO PREVENT CRUEL AND UNNECESSARY SUFFERING IN OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. I JUST HOPE THAT OKLAHOMANS CONTINUE TO TO REALIZE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WE HAVE IN THIS STATE. THE BILL IS PASSED THROUGH THE
Bill inspired by Norman’s ‘Cookie Queen’ addresses law enforcement, mental health calls
A Norman woman, who died in the Cleveland County Detention Center, inspired one legislator to make changes to how law enforcement handles mental health calls.
Updated: 5:20 PM CST Mar 10, 2023
A Norman woman, who died in the Cleveland County Detention Center, inspired one legislator to make changes to how law enforcement handles mental health calls. Shannon Hanchett, a businesswoman and mental health advocate known as Norman’s “Cookie Queen,” died in the custody of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office. Community members voiced their outrage following her death, saying she should have been taken to a hospital instead of a jail. State Rep. Cynthia Roe said Hanchett was originally from the same area she represents. Now, she said she hopes the Shannon Hanchett Act can make sure law enforcement is equipped for anyone who is having a mental health crisis. “I think it’s bringing light to the mental health crisis we have in Oklahoma. I thought it was appropriate to incorporate Shannon’s story into this legislation,” Roe said. The bill would encourage law enforcement to have 20% of their officers trained in crisis intervention. “So that if they encounter an individual who is in a mental health crisis, substance abuse issue, that they could be better able to recognize that and choose the correct path forward for that individual,” Roe said. If it passes, the act could improve Oklahoma’s mental health situation. “My goal is to help law enforcement agencies be able to recognize and appropriately handle an individual who appears to be in a mental health crisis,” Roe said. The group Justice for Shannon sent KOCO a statement saying, “This bill is a promising first step, but we have a long road ahead to prevent cruel and unnecessary suffering in our system of justice.” “I just hope that Oklahomans continue to realize the magnitude of the mental health crisis we have in the state,” Roe said. House Bill 2157 passed through the House and is now headed to the Senate. Top HeadlinesBill aims to allow Oklahomans to buy full-strength liquor at grocery storesTherapists worried about Oklahoma law requiring database for patient’s mental health informationOHP: 3 teenagers killed, another critically injured in Creek County crashTIMELINE: Severe storms with risk of hail, tornadoes possible SaturdayOklahoma woman sues Snapchat following son’s fentanyl overdoseOU athletics releases statement after Gentry Williams returns from hospitalBill allowing for study of psychedelic mushrooms passes Oklahoma House
A Norman woman, who died in the Cleveland County Detention Center, inspired one legislator to make changes to how law enforcement handles mental health calls.
Shannon Hanchett, a businesswoman and mental health advocate known as Norman’s “Cookie Queen,” died in the custody of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office. Community members voiced their outrage following her death, saying she should have been taken to a hospital instead of a jail.
State Rep. Cynthia Roe said Hanchett was originally from the same area she represents. Now, she said she hopes the Shannon Hanchett Act can make sure law enforcement is equipped for anyone who is having a mental health crisis.
“I think it’s bringing light to the mental health crisis we have in Oklahoma. I thought it was appropriate to incorporate Shannon’s story into this legislation,” Roe said.
The bill would encourage law enforcement to have 20% of their officers trained in crisis intervention.
“So that if they encounter an individual who is in a mental health crisis, substance abuse issue, that they could be better able to recognize that and choose the correct path forward for that individual,” Roe said.
If it passes, the act could improve Oklahoma’s mental health situation.
“My goal is to help law enforcement agencies be able to recognize and appropriately handle an individual who appears to be in a mental health crisis,” Roe said.
The group Justice for Shannon sent KOCO a statement saying, “This bill is a promising first step, but we have a long road ahead to prevent cruel and unnecessary suffering in our system of justice.”
“I just hope that Oklahomans continue to realize the magnitude of the mental health crisis we have in the state,” Roe said.
House Bill 2157 passed through the House and is now headed to the Senate.
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