Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI)

Colorado's Protection and Advocacy System (P&A System) for Individuals with mental illness is established to protect and advocate for the rights of individuals through activities to ensure the enforcement of the Constitution and federal and state statutes; and to investigate instances of abuse and neglect that are reported to the system. If there is probable cause to believe an incident of abuse or neglect or rights violation has occurred, the P&A System has the authority to pursue administrative, legal, or other remedies against the offending entity.

In order to facilitate the P&A System's investigation activities, Congress granted the P&A System broad facility and records access rights. The Legal Center has been forced to defend its right of access to records twice now during the course of two death investigations. See The Legal Center v. Earnest, 320 F.3d 1107 (10th Cir. 2003); and The Legal Center v. Hammons, 323 F. 3d 1262 (10th Cir. 2003). In both cases the courts found for The Legal Center and granted records access.

Since The Legal Center does not have unlimited resources, it must prioritize its PAIMI protection and advocacy work on behalf of individuals with mental illness. The following priorities are in effect for FY 07-08. Please click on a file format (Word, pdf) to view priorities.

Should you have suggestions for future year's priorities please give The Legal Center your comments. Click here to go to the priorities survey on this website.