RICHMOND, Va. — Governor Glenn Youngkin is launching the Prompt Placement TDO (Temporary Detention Order) Task Force, according to a press release from his office.
The task force is a part of Youngkin’s initiative to end what his office describes as a “Temporary Detention Order (TDO) crisis.”
The press release elaborates on the crisis, stating, “In 14 months (June 2021 - July 2022), there were 21,099 TDOs in the Commonwealth. Individuals under TDOs are often in a crisis and unable to receive care due to a lack of appropriate resources and barriers in the TDO process. The average wait time for an individual under a TDO to receive a placement and care has risen to 43 hours in Virginia.”
Youngkin said the following about launching the task force:
“Improving our behavioral health system is at the top of my Day 2 Agenda. It is critical that we address the mental health crisis and prioritize caring for Virginians… I'm committed to making substantial progress in providing access to resources, caring for Virginians and reforming the TDO process.”
The task force will be headed up by Janet Kelly, who also led the Governor’s Safe and Sound Task Force. Representatives from agencies, community service boards, law enforcement and hospitals will also participate in the new initiative.
"This is a complex and multifaceted challenge that impacts many walks of life and many Virginians and many stakeholders," said Julian Walker with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Walker says often times if beds aren't available at mental health facilities patients will be taken to hospital emergency rooms, which may not be the best for their care. "This has been an ongoing challenge for many years. The hospital community has been at the forefront of trying to address it," Walker said.
A big aspect of the challenge is the strain it puts on law enforcement, who are required to stay with patients for hours or even days until they can be admitted. "We have very few options to be able to get law enforcement out of that transportation responsibility. What really should take a matter of hours, sometimes takes days," said Dana Schrad, the executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
Local governments across Hampton Roads have also pointed out it's taking police officers off of the streets. During a September meeting of local mayors, the group said they would push state lawmakers to increase resources and support to potentially allow other qualified professionals handle these cases.
Schrad says there's been hesitancy on that in the past because people under a TDO can pose a danger and may need police restraint, but says alternatives should be on the table.
"That would really alleviate, not only alleviate the burden on law enforcement, but might be helpful to those individuals to not feel like they are in law enforcement custody, which they may not understand," she said.
