Gov. Northam signs Marcus Alert into law, creating statewide alert system for people experiencing mental health crisis
Office of Gov. Ralph Northam
By: Web Staff
and last updated 2020-12-16 20:04:06-05
RICHMOND, Va. - Gov. Ralph Northam ceremonially signed legislation Tuesday creating the Marcus Alert, a statewide mental health alert system to make sure behavioral health experts are involved in responding to people in crisis, including by limiting the role of law enforcement.
The law is named to honor Marcus-David Peters, a high school biology teacher who was killed by a police officer in Richmond while experiencing a behavioral health crisis in 2018.
Governor Northam Signs Legislation Creating Statewide ‘Marcus Alert’
RICHMOND Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed legislation today establishing the ‘Marcus Alert,’ a statewide mental health alert system to ensure behavioral health experts are involved in responding to individuals in crisis, including by limiting the role of law enforcement. The law is named to honor Marcus-David Peters, a high school biology teacher who was killed by a police officer in Richmond while experiencing a behavioral health crisis in 2018.
The legislation creates a mental health awareness response and community understanding services (Marcus) alert system, and creates teams of mental health service providers and peer recovery specialists to promote a behavioral health response to individuals in crisis, including those with substance abuse disorder and developmental disabilities. Governor Northam was joined at the ceremony by members of Peters’ family and by Oscar Ubrina, whose 15-year-ol