Committee advances study approach for jail mental-health evaluations after emotional testimony

Representative Consuelo Hernandez presented HB2673, legislation intended to ensure jails screen and evaluate prisoners showing symptoms of severe mental illness and, when appropriate, file petitions leading to transport to evaluation agencies. After extensive testimony — including emotional testimony from Crystal Fox describing family tragedies — the sponsor said stakeholder conversations revealed complex legal and operational issues and that she would pursue an amendment to turn the measure into a study committee with an end-of-year report.

Crystal Fox, co-founder of Arizona Mad Moms, recounted her son Joshua’s prolonged, untreated psychosis and the failures she said occurred while he was booked into the criminal-justice system; she urged lawmakers to vote for measures that make timely evaluation and treatment more likely. Opposing testimony from Adna Zalkovich echoed due-process and constitutional concerns, warning the bill could undermine competency protections, expand civil-commitment filings, and increase cost and resource burdens on courts and jails.

Representative Hernandez said the intent is to convene counties, judges, attorneys, family advocates and other stakeholders to examine timelines, responsibilities, and continuity of care, then report recommendations. The committee adopted the move and returned HB2673 with a due-pass recommendation; the sponsor said she would work on amendments to create a study and to clarify timelines and stakeholder roles before further action.