State hospitals as alternative to prison?
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a novel idea to deal with prison overcrowding.
Members of the House Judiciary Committee are looking into the possibility of moving prisoners with mental illnesses into state mental hospitals. Chairman Thomas Caltagirone says that would ease overcrowding and get mentally ill prisoners better treatment.
Caltagirone: Yes they have committed crimes, some minor crimes, some major crimes, but they are mentally ill, and to incarcerate them in a correctional facility doesn't seem to do them justice.
Mental health advocates say the state's mental hospital's are dilapidated – and for the cost of renovations, mentally ill offenders could receive treatment and supervision in their own communities. Joseph Rodgers is Chief Advocacy Officer with the Mental Health Association of SE Pennsylvania:
Rodgers: I think if we took that money and created community based programming we could probably have the same effect of diverting people from prison who basically are there because of their mental illness, and there's real evidence that you can successfully treat and work with people in the community that just don't need to be in prison
University of Pennsylvania psychologist Mark Salzer says the fact that admissions to mental hospitals nationally are up for the first time in 50 years suggests many states are already doing this. He says lawmakers likely saw overcrowded prisons, mentally ill prisoners, and vacant beds in state hospitals:
Salzer: And they said hey – we've got these people filling up our jails and prisons, instead of adding more prisons, let's move people with mental illnesses who are in jails and prisons to these state hospital grounds, and that seems accounting for the increase in the state hospital population
As an alternative, the Judiciary Committee is also considering moving two thousand prisoners to prisons in Virginia and Michigan.
I would love someone with a high authority, someone with alot of respect & a heart but yet dont back down f/a challange. Please read ALL THIS its worth it & a current thing. I been saying this for so long.Not all people should just get shipped 2 prison, all facts shold be considered like they say. i was looken @ some other sites & theirs some real idiots out there. you gotta understand the difference between sane & insane 1st of all, but i know someone who is in trouble right now. what he did was wrong, he has i.e.d., bipolar. when he snaps he doesnt remember nothing at all. he faceing prison possible 2yrs but i think he need 2 be in a mental facility. not that he looses control & then suffers memory loss, sometimes other then destroying things around him, he also will hurt himself. it has gotten violent, hes hurt people. this is 3rd domestic violence. someday i wonder if his outrage burst will turn worst on whoever is around or himself. by no means am i defending anyone that hurts someone, unless its self defense. but right is right & when someone does need help they do. i know prison guards & cops that say prison isnt 4 rehabilitation, its about survival. even the show lock up says the samething.anyways if theres any prof. people that can step in & help please do. i been searchen 4 facilities here in ohio-instead of prison. time is running out/court coming up so please anyone with advise or know somewhere. it has to be a place like a prison i dont think judge will do it. more important he does need it to be 24/7 so he can get proper help for his own future. this will be his 3rd strike & hes tried 2 scream out for help & tell them somethings wrong with him & has begged courts for help. so please any lawyers,dr.,high up people, what to step up & do something f/the heart? what if it was your son, nephew, cousin, brother, any relative, even your best friend. please!!! thank you so much 4 reading this.
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