SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is part of a team of legislators that will work with mental health providers and law enforcement professionals to investigate the state of security and mental health care in Illinois to try to prevent incidents of mass shootings.
"The importance of treatment for those suffering from mental illness is too often ignored until violence occurs," Smiddy said. "Illinois' public safety system must address both the importance of adequate security as well as proactive mental illness intervention to avoid the tragedies that have recently been far too common."
The Violence Prevention Task Force was formed to work through the reports from recent tragedies and look for ways these disasters could have been avoided. Smiddy will serve on the bipartisan group and attempt to help keep those suffering from mental illness from falling through the cracks before tragedy occurs.
"As a Department of Corrections employee, I know that many violent offenders don't have access to the treatment they need. Getting them help can be crucial to preventing tragedy," Smiddy said. "The safety of our children and our communities is the most important part of my job, and I'm honored to have been selected for this task force with the goal of preventing senseless acts of violence."
The Violence Prevention Task Force is scheduled to deliver its preliminary report by July 1, 2015 and its final report by the end of the year.
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