Rep. Hugh Blackwell says the state has over 300 beds it can’t use because of staffing shortages.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers are considering changes to involuntary commitment laws and exploring ways to provide more psychiatric beds.
This comes after multiple recent crimes have pointed to suspects with a lengthy criminal and mental health histories, including Decarlos Brown Jr., who is charged with the murder of Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail in August.
“There was really a vacuum of providers and available treatments here in Charlotte,” Dr. Kevin Marra, director of medical services at HopeWay, a nonprofit mental health clinic in Charlotte, said. “I think in North Carolina, specifically in Charlotte, we’re still kind of behind in regards to being able to meet the needs of our community members.”
Lawmakers are considering several options, including a mobile crisis unit of mental health professionals who can support magistrates in their decisions about involuntary commitment. They’re also looking at expanding outpatient commitment for some, making it easier to get certified to work in this field and adding more psychiatric beds.
Rep. Hugh Blackwell chairs the committee and says the state has over 300 beds that it can’t use.
“We’re told we can’t find nurses, we can’t find CNAs, we can’t find the people to staff them, so therefore they are closed, and law enforcement drives all over the state trying to find a mental health bed for somebody because we can’t put them in the hospital,” Blackwell said.
However, all these changes require funding.
“What I’m hoping is for funding, we see a set-aside of political differences and actually putting the money where one’s mouth is to make changes,” Rep. Laura Budd said.
Budd said this has been a major discussion in Mecklenburg County after DeCarlos Brown Jr.’s arrest. Brown’s mother obtained an involuntary commitment order approved by a magistrate in 2023. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia but was subsequently released.
Brown went on to have multiple instances with police, including last January. Police said they didn’t seek involuntary commitment because he never said he was a danger to himself or others.
“I think people are being released maybe before they’re ready,” Marra said. “They’re going out into the community, which is overwhelmed already with individuals that are very sick.”
Marra emphasized that most people needing mental health treatment are not violent, but lawmakers agree that change is necessary.
“We can’t criminalize our way out of mental health,” Budd said. “It puts law enforcement agencies in a bad spot, because that’s not what their mission is.”
Lawmakers aren’t expected to discuss the overdue state budget until April.
Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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