Olmstead at 20: Using the Vision of Olmstead to Decriminalize Mental Illness

Thanks to the historic Olmstead decision 20 years ago, many more people with mental illness now live in integrated, community-based settings rather than in psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, or large board and care facilities. Yet for far too many people with mental illness who end up unnecessarily in jails and prisons, the promise of the ADA and Olmstead remains unfulfilled. Kevin Martone, Francine Arienti, and Sherry Lerch explore the reasons, and propose new directions in advocacy and policymaking for community integration.