Cooper v. Greenstein
Advocating for timely, appropriate mental heath services for individuals who are not guilty of a crime or who are not competent to stand trial
Court: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
Case No.: Civil No. 97-3274 (EDLA):
This is a suit that DRLA filed on behalf of individuals with mental illness who are found not guilty by reason of insanity or incompetent to stand trial. The courts have ordered these individuals to receive care and treatment in psychiatric facilities. Instead, they have faced prolonged and unconstitutional confinement in parish jails, due to lack of bed-space at appropriate facilities.
DRLA and partner organizations continue to enforce a settlement agreement with LDH, in order to reduce these wait times. As a part of the settlement, LDH is in the process of opening 4 facilities to provide in-patient psychiatric care to some of these individuals.
