The VLW Blog

A Woodbridge man is now fit to be tried for murder, after being found incompetent to stand trial in March.
Keith Baskerville, charged in the abduction and death of an Alexandria woman, completed treatment last month at a state mental hospital and was sent to the Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail after his discharge, reports the News [...]

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Advocates for mental patients lost a bid to get access to internal documents about patient injuries or death at state facilities in a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy claimed in the lawsuit that Commissioner James Reinhard and others were illegally denying the agency access to [...]

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Virginia Beach public defender Annette Miller helps those with mental health issues.
Miller has worked in the public defender’s office since 1995. In the past five years, she tells The Virginian-Pilot, she has likely handled more than 200 criminal cases involving seriously mentally ill defendants.
The city of Virginia Beach recognized her in 2000 with a Human [...]

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A judge has agreed to delay the trial of the man accused of running down and killing Roanoke lawyer Tom Farrell.
The lawyer for Jeffery Martin Young told substitute Judge William Alexander he needs additional time to explore Young’s extensive medical history as he develops an insanity defense.
Young reportedly has experienced psychotic episodes and serious injuries.  [...]

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Attorney General Bob McDonnell is announcing $1 million for mental health services to come from settlements with two pharmacy benefits management companies.
The grant will help the Virginia Health Care Foundation and other health organizations establish or expand the availability of prescription medications, basic mental health services and primary medical care, according to the Associated Press. [...]

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Richard Bonnie told members of the Mental Health Law Reform Commission today that the commission took a gigantic first step in the 2008 General Assembly session “but it was a first step.”
Bonnie, the University of Virginia law school professor who chairs the commission, said it will monitor the changes approved by the legislature and continue [...]

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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine proposed today to spend almost $42 million to improve the state’s mental health system.
Kaine made it clear that the proposals are a direct response to the massacre at Virginia Tech in April and to the recommendations of a review panel he appointed to study the incident.
“The tragedy at Virginia Tech in [...]

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