Today, Mayor Farrell announced second year data from the implementation of Laura’s Law that showed those suffering from severe mental illness who qualified for Laura’s Law were significantly less likely to return to the City’s crisis systems and jail following placement in treatment.

“We need to provide more help for people on our streets suffering from severe mental illness and homelessness to improve the quality of life for all San Francisco residents,” said Mayor Farrell. “The results from those helped from Laura’s Law speak for themselves—people are less likely to go to the hospital, jail or be homeless after being placed in treatment.”

Since the launch of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), more commonly referred to as Laura’s Law, in November 2015, 94 individuals have met the legal criteria and received services. The program continues to show positive outcomes with 76 percent of participants having reduced or avoided psychiatric emergency services, 79 percent reduced or avoided incarceration and 60 percent reduced or avoided psychiatric hospitalization.