Audit Finds California Courts Undermining Gun Control By Not Reporting Mentally Ill
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A state audit says many California courts fail to report the mentally ill to state justice officials, undermining efforts to take guns away from potentially dangerous owners.
State law requires courts to tell the Department of Justice when it makes certain mental health determinations. The department uses that information as part of a program unique to California that seizes guns from people who are prohibited from having them.
The audit released Tuesday found that many courts were not aware of the reporting requirements. The courts collectively failed to report at least 2,300 mental health determinations over a three-year period.
Other courts reported only some of the required information. Some took up to seven days to report.
Auditors say state law should be changed to require reporting within 24 hours.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
