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By: Rob Otto
Taylor Swift’s unsettling experience with a stalker has sparked legislative action in New York. A new bill, supported by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and two Democratic lawmakers, aims to track and provide treatment for mentally ill individuals involved in low-level offenses. This initiative seeks to reduce repeat offenses and better address mental health issues.
According to the NY Post, the legislation targets a legal loophole that currently allows hundreds of misdemeanor cases to be dismissed each year when defendants are deemed mentally unfit for trial. As the law stands, individuals accused of offenses such as third-degree assault, aggravated harassment, and trespassing are released from custody—and from psychiatric care—within days of their cases being thrown out.
The proposed bill, dubbed the “SUPPORT Act,” would assign caseworkers from the state’s Office of Mental Health Services to help these individuals access treatment after their release. This includes home visits and community outreach, as well as referrals for continued care provided by the releasing hospital.
DA Bragg highlighted the urgency of the matter in a statement to the NY Post, noting, “Defying logic, our laws dictate that hundreds of people who are found unfit to stand trial by mental health professionals have their cases dismissed and are sent back to our communities without the necessary tools to access potentially life-saving treatment.” The SUPPORT Act, he explained, would offer individuals ongoing support, increasing their chances of stability and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
The bill gained attention partly due to the high-profile case of David Crowe, a 33-year-old law student from Seattle. Crowe was charged with stalking Taylor Swift after repeatedly lurking outside her Manhattan apartment. In January 2024, a judge released Crowe after he was found mentally unfit for trial. He was back near Swift’s home, rummaging through a dumpster, just an hour later.
In February 2024, Crowe’s case was officially dismissed due to his mental unfitness. However, in an unusual move, authorities transferred him to an Upstate New York hospital for further psychiatric treatment—a step many hope will become the norm under the new legislation.
According to the NY Post, the DA’s office reported that in 2024 alone, 224 misdemeanor cases involving unfit defendants were dismissed. In 2023, 274 such cases were thrown out. Meanwhile, requests for court-ordered evaluations to determine defendants’ trial fitness have risen significantly—up 16.5% as of mid-2024.
The SUPPORT Act’s sponsors, Manhattan Democrats Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblyman Tony Simone, emphasize the pressing need for mental health interventions. “There are simply too many individuals struggling with mental illness languishing on the streets and in the subways of New York City,” said Hoylman-Sigal. “If we are to seriously address this issue, we must focus on getting those with severe mental illnesses the help they need.”
While felony cases already require mentally unfit defendants to remain in psychiatric facilities until deemed fit for trial, this bill seeks to close the gap for misdemeanor cases.
As of now, it is unclear whether Crowe remains in treatment. The state Office of Mental Health declined to comment, citing patient confidentiality, and the Department of Correction confirmed Crowe has not been in custody since February 2024.
The NY Post notes that Crowe’s former lawyer, Katherine Bajuk, expressed her office’s support for the bill but could not disclose details about her client’s current care.
The SUPPORT Act represents a critical step toward addressing the mental health crisis affecting New York’s justice system.
