Theris’ Law

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Hi, my name is Theris Coats, Sr.

I lost my son, Theris Lee Coats II, in San Francisco County Jail — not because we didn’t see the signs, but because I was legally blocked from helping him get the care he needed.

Theris Lee Coats II and Theris Coats, Sr.

He struggled with mental illness and addiction. We saw the danger. We pleaded for support.

But the law told us:
❌ You’re not allowed in.
❌ You’re not authorized to help.

By the time the system responded, it was already too late.

That’s why we’re fighting for something called Theris’ Law.

So, What is Theris’ Law?

Theris’ Law is a local policy that would allow families to act before a crisis turns deadly, by doing three things:

  1. A licensed doctor or mental health professional confirms the person is too impaired to make safe decisions.

  2. A close family member is temporarily allowed limited access to information—just enough to help.

  3. The family can request short-term conservatorship, with a court’s approval, to get their loved one into treatment.

This is not about taking away rights—it’s about creating a path for compassionate intervention when a life is at risk. It’s about giving families a chance to act before the jail cell, before the overdose, before the obituary. We’re calling on San Francisco’s leaders to support this policy—and we’re asking our community to stand with us.