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Advocate urges review of 'aid and assist' docket, county service priorities
Summary
A community advocate urged the council to examine county practices and funding related to the 'aid and assist' docket and community restoration for people with serious mental-health needs, saying recent legal changes may shorten restoration timelines.
During non-agenda public comment on Dec. 1, Mary Ng asked the council to review county-level practices tied to the 'aid and assist' docket — the process for defendants who may need competency evaluations or restoration services — and to consider whether county funding is reaching inclusive, appropriate service models.
Ng described recent statewide law changes that can abbreviate community restoration timelines and said streamlined dismissal processes could benefit people with low-level offenses who have mental-health or substance-use challenges. She called for stronger social services and asked the council to examine county decisions to reduce funding in ways that may exclude survivors, queer people and women.
Councilors thanked Ng for raising the issue and noted county responsibilities in providing and funding services; they did not take formal action during the meeting but recorded her comments in the public record.
