What happened to Kendra Webdale?
What happened to Kendra Webdale?
Nearly two decades ago, in a Manhattan subway station, a mentally ill man shoved Kendra Webdale, a promising young writer, to her death in front of an oncoming N train.
Who is Kendra Webdale?
In 1999, Kendra Webdale, an aspiring young screenwriter, was pushed to her death under an oncoming subway train. The assailant was a man with schizophrenia who refused to regularly take medication needed to control his psychotic symptoms.
Why did Goldstein push Kendra?
Once again, the issue would be Andrew Goldstein’s mental state. Once again, prosecutors argued that Goldstein pushed Kendra Webdale in front of the subway, because he hated women.
Is Kendra law still in effect?
Kendra’s Law, effective since November 1999, is a New York State law concerning involuntary outpatient commitment also known as assisted outpatient treatment.
What is Laura’s Law in California?
Laura’s Law is California’s state law that provides community-based, assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) to a small population of individuals who meet strict legal criteria and who – as a result of their mental illness – are unable to voluntarily access community mental health services.
How do you get someone involuntarily committed in NYC?
Involuntary Commitment
- two physicians agree and present certifications that the person has a mental illness for which care and treatment in a mental hospital is essential to his or her welfare,
- the person’s judgment is too impaired for him or her to understand the need for such care and treatment, or,
What did Goldstein do?
Goldstein attacked 13 people in the two years before he killed Webdale, including psychiatrists, a nurse and a social worker.
What was Goldstein charged with?
Three weeks later, he pushed Kendra Webdale under the train. Goldstein’s first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury deadlocked. A second jury rejected Goldstein’s insanity defense plea and convicted him of second-degree murder after just 90 minutes of deliberation. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
What is Laura’s law in California?
Why is it called Baker Act?
Children as young as 12 years old could be placed into state hospitals with adults. The Act, usually referred to as the “Baker Act,” was named after Maxine Baker, former State Representative from Miami who sponsored the Act, after serving as chairperson of the House Committee on Mental Health.
Why was Laura’s law passed?
Following their daughter’s tragic death, Laura’s parents, Amanda and Nick Wilcox, were determined to see legislation passed in California to give families options to get mentally ill relatives into treatment.
Who was Laura Wilcox?
The law was named after Laura Wilcox, a receptionist who was killed by a man who had refused psychiatric treatment. Modeled on Kendra’s Law, a similar statute enacted in New York, the bill was introduced as Assembly Bill 1421 by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson, a Democrat from Davis.
