Bill Davis: Criminal JusticeSelected studies, reports, articles, news stories and Internet resources on mental health and criminal justice systemsInsanity Defense Seminar Reflects Tragedy, Pain and Inadequacies of Criminal and Mental Health Systems- June 22, 2005 Page at the NAMI web site - "Contrary to popular perceptions shaped by the media, 'the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small,' according to the U.S. Surgeon General&146;s Report on Mental Health (1999). Similarly, the insanity defense in criminal cases is seldom used and seldom successful. On June 20, NAMI&146;s national convention in Austin, Texas, convened a special seminar, 'The Insanity Defense: Time for a New Model'..http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?Section=Top_Story&template=/ContentManagement/Content... How long will we continue to punish the mentally ill- June 20, 2005 Op ed piece in the Houston Chronicle by David Buck, associate professor of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Tuon Nguyen of the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County - "...These vulnerable people are often overlooked, stigmatized and punished for conditions they cannot control without help. They can be difficult, demanding and helpless, and society turns a blind eye to their plight. This is especially true in Harris County, where...http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3232152 Prisons in South Carolina may face legal problems- June 20, 2005 Charlotte Observer story - "Low state funding and concerns about the treatment of mentally ill prisoners could create legal problems for South Carolina's Corrections Department, its director says. Agency director Jon Ozmint says he sat down earlier this year with lawyers from a Columbia law firm that has been looking into how the prisons take care of mentally ill inmates. The firm -- Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough -- confirmed this week that it has prepared a lawsuit involving...http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/11926161.htm Options to reduce mentally ill population in prisons (Masssachusetts)- June 13, 2005 Chelmsford Independent story - "By sending mentally ill criminal offenders to prison instead of treating their sickness, the state is wasting money and potentially endangering those in the communities offenders return to, supporters of decriminalization bills told lawmakers Monday. ... More than a quarter of nearly 10,000 state prisoners are receiving mental health services, including more than 60 percent of the female inmate population, according to the state Department of Corrections....http://www2.townonline.com/chelmsford/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=262405 Kudos for City Court's Mental Health Division (Arizona)- June 13, 2005 Opinion column in the Tucson Citizen - "... Since 2000, 3,100 defendants have successfully completed the diversion program. The program's effect on the community was shown in a recent study by the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management. Defendants entering the program in 2002 had an average of seven criminal charges in the prior two years. More than half of those completing diversion had no additional charges in the two years afterward, the study found. Crimes of violence...http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=opinion&story_id=061005b5_guestmental Report: Jails' mental health care poor (New York)- June 13, 2005 Newsday story - "New York's prisons have too much use of harsh disciplinary measures and not enough mental health care or education programs, according to a report released today by the Correctional Association of New York, a watchdog agency. But a spokesman for the state Department of Correctional Services said the 163-page report isn't worthy of a response. The state houses 64,000 inmates in 70 prisons around the state. On the plus side, the report said there are good programs and...http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lijail104298121jun10,0,1406305.stor... |