Jamycheal Mitchell's family comes to Richmond to support bills addressing jail, mental health deficiencies

Jan. 18--RICHMOND

The mother, aunt and others in the family of Jamycheal Mitchell came to Richmond on Wednesday to tell the story of his death in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.

Democratic lawmakers stood beside them and promised they'd do everything they can to make sure such a thing never happens again. Lawmakers say they are tackling jail and mental health reform as a bi-partisan issue.

Nearly a dozen bills have been submitted by lawmakers to help prevent similar deaths.

Sonia Adams, his mother, and Roxanne Adams, his aunt, said their top preference would be for better mental health training for arresting officers and correctional officers.

Mitchell was arrested on a charge of stealing $5 worth of snacks and later died in the jail. He suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Sonia Adams, Mitchell's mother, said Wednesday that Jamycheal didn't deserve to be treated like an animal. The family's lawyer claim he died unfed in his cell, covered in urine and feces.

Mitchell lost nearly 40 pounds in less than four months from not eating, the family's lawyers claim. Jail officials say Mitchell was given a tray of food each meal and that he refused medication. Officials say he was treated like other inmates and did not alert staff to any problems.

An autopsy said Mitchell died from heart problems and wasting disease.

Tears rolled down her face as lawmakers gave condolences.

Adams and her sister, Jamychael's aunt, said their top preference would be for better mental health training for correctional officers.

One bill patroned by state Sen. Barbara Favola of Northern Virginia, SB 933, would require mental health first aid training to sheriffs and correctional officers.

That bill has been sent to the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee where it could face opposition. Sen. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, said at a previous committee hearing that it would create an unfunded mandate for sheriff's offices and jails.

Allocated money from the budget may be hard to come by in a year where the state faces a $1.5 billion shortfall.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe has included $30 million in the state budget to address mental health issues, but that money has already been set aside for other issues, like same-day access to mental health care.

Other bills include HB 1977 from Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, that authorizes police officers who make warrant-less misdemeanor arrests of people they believe are mentally ill to transport them to a crisis stabilization unit instead of taking them to a magistrate. The arrested would be issued summonses after treatment.

Another bill, HB 1966, requires a defendant found incompetent to stand trial and ordered to receive treatment to restore competency must be transferred to the hospital as soon as possible but within no later than 10 days.

Adams said she is thankful for the lawmakers' help, but was saddened that it took her son's death to address the situation.

"It's a shame my son had to go through this before all this is developed," Adams said of the proposed laws.

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