“Tristin Murphy Act” is looking for the reform of justice for mentally ill defendants in Florida

Escambia County, Florida – a draft law for the protection of people with mental illnesses is submitted to the Senate of Florida.

The “Tristin Murphy Act” aims to distract those people who are accused of less serious crimes than imprisonment.

Senate Bill 168 is named after a man from Charlotte County, who died by suicide in a prison in Florida after he was sentenced to three years for a third degree.

Family members say that there were several failures that led to the death of the man.

Despite a history of mental illnesses and treatment for schizophrenia, Tristin Murphy was put to a work detail in 2021, where he took his own life with a chainsaw.

A Senator in Florida now says it is time to change the way we detain those with mental health problems.

“My name is Cynthia Murphy, and I'm … I'm sorry,” said Tristin's mother. “I can't believe that I have to do that at all.”

In January 2024, Cynthia spoke in front of a subcommittee of the Senate in Florida.

“There must be change,” said Cynthia.

Your goal is the reform for mentally ill inner Florida judicial system.

“The start of detail in this work detail,” said Cynthia. “… the group, 32 inmates, were asked by the prison attendant, 'does anyone know how to start a chainsaw?'”

“Tristin volunteered,” she said. “Immediately the chainsaw on the neck and separated his neck.

Tristin suffered from schizophrenia. His mother says he didn't get the right medication, treatment or classification when he was prison. All of this contributed to his death, she says.

For this reason, Senator Jennifer Bradley from North Central Florida presented Tristin Murphy Act.

Bradley released the following explanation:

If someone commits serious, violent crimes, they have to be detained from public security. This draft law offers a different way for less serious crimes on which the accused, your family and the community would be better served by receiving the defendant the necessary treatment for mental health.

The draft law of Senate 168 deals with the determination of probation conditions for people with mental illnesses, the determination of requirements for working programs and the creation of processes in order to manage the accused into treatment and expand training programs.

The Florida Sheriff's Association supports the invoice.

“It would agree, even enable crime dimensions if, if they are determined at the beginning of this crime, they are unable to be in court, but as soon as they are stable enough, they can carry out diversions and follow the mental health,” said Santa Rosa County Sheriff, Deputy Deputy.

“You will make it successful,” he said. “And it will reduce the number of victims in our community.”

The draft law will go to the criminal justice on Tuesday.