Bill Helping Defendents with Mental Illnesses Heads to Senate Vote

In a touching interview with Il Giornale, the senator recounts suffering, painful feelings of guilt and a future project: “Mental illnesses are much more common than we know. In the coming months I want to deal with this.”

Bill Helping Defendents with Mental Illnesses Heads to Senate Vote

The Senate Committee on Approprations recently advanced a bill 18-0 to the chamber floor that would create alternative pathways for prosecuting defendants with mental illnesses. Sen. Jennifer Bradey (R-Fleming Island) championed SB 168, also known as the Tristan Murphy Act. Rep. Nan Cobb (R-Eustis) is sponsoring the House version of the bill (HB 1207). Tristan Murphy was a 37-year-old father of two suffering from schizophrenia, paranoia and delu…