CA-2025-11-17

What the Record Shows

For 40 years, June Dudas sought treatment and support for her cousin Ed, who developed schizophrenia in his twenties. His family experienced repeated cycles of psychosis, homelessness, incarceration and state hospitalization. Dudas described her cousin as stable and doing well when receiving treatment, but said that when he was not taking medication, his delusions could become violent. His mother, Dudas’ 84-year-old aunt, had obtained restraining orders and taken other measures to protect herself.

In 2025, Dudas turned to California’s CARE Court after learning that it was intended to connect people with serious mental illness to court-supervised treatment. She spent weeks assembling an application from years of medical and arrest records. A county clinician evaluated Ed while he was in jail but did not recommend CARE Court. According to Dudas and reporting by CalMatters and Tradeoffs, Ed’s refusal to participate resulted in the case being dismissed. A second petition filed in October was also dismissed. Ed remained in jail for violating his mother’s restraining order, with his family expecting the cycle to continue after his release.

Sources:

CalMatters, Dec. 18, 2025: How does Newsom’s new mental health court work? Here’s what real people involved say

Tradeoffs, Feb. 5, 2026: Mental Illness Left Their Loved Ones on the Streets. California’s Big Fix Hasn’t Helped

CalMatters, Dec. 18, 2025: How does Newsom’s new mental health court work? Here’s what real people involved say

Each story is shared to highlight where systems failed to intervene or provide treatment. The intent is accountability and reform, not to portray people with Severe Mental Illness as dangerous or to reinforce stigma.