Hitting Snooze Amidst Virginia’s Mental Health Crisis: The Shortcomings of the Bed of Last Resort and the Need for a Continuum of Crisis Care

This Comment examines the history, structure, and unintended consequences of the Bed of Last Resort law by tracking its development and how it currently operates within Virginia’s broader mental health system. This Comment also evaluates the efficacy of the Bed of Last Resort law by comparing it to best practices for treating those experiencing mental health emergencies, focusing specifically on the Crisis Now model for a continuum of crisis care. This Comment concludes with proposals for improving the Bed of Last Resort law without completely overhauling the legislation.

Mary C. Fritz *

* J.D., 2024, University of Richmond School of Law; B.A., 2020, Villanova University.