Comments on: Mental Health Court, Round Two http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/ A blog about mental health Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:55:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Legal Watchdog http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5157 Legal Watchdog Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:23:43 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5157 Mental health courts are potentially threatening. Most are founded by people with no mental health experience, and are used by many as an easy way to get out of criminal charges. In most jurisdictions, mental health courts are given only to felons, participation is voluntary, but the rub is by virtue of the mental illness that landed a person in court, they could end up in jail or prison. Guilty pleas should not be required to participate in mental health courts, and the use of psychotropic drugs should be up to the participant. The federal law establishing mental health court is the source folks should be looking at. Mental health courts are potentially threatening. Most are founded by people with no mental health experience, and are used by many as an easy way to get out of criminal charges. In most jurisdictions, mental health courts are given only to felons, participation is voluntary, but the rub is by virtue of the mental illness that landed a person in court, they could end up in jail or prison. Guilty pleas should not be required to participate in mental health courts, and the use of psychotropic drugs should be up to the participant. The federal law establishing mental health court is the source folks should be looking at.

]]> By: Charley Feher http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5150 Charley Feher Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:17:33 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5150 I love how I read this entry along with the replies while hearing the audio from 'One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest' playing on a television upstairs. I love how I read this entry along with the replies while hearing the audio from ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest’ playing on a television upstairs.

]]> By: J. Z. Laing http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5151 J. Z. Laing Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:12:03 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5151 Mental Hospitals vs. Prisons: which is better?, is probably not how this should be framed. Mental Hospitals offer many immediate benefits over prisons to prisoners, which prisoners would agree to treatment for these benefits that they might not accept without the incentive. I would view this as the state manipulating the prisoners. Instead of forced druggings of prisoners, the prisoners "willing" accept the drugs under the promise (bribe) of entering the more humane "treatment facility." Why not improve conditions in the prisons and provide treatment within the prison for prisoners who seek it. Sensationalizing this story for this purpose seems unethical. Are there other examples of lunatics gone wild. Why is not more emphasis put on the cops and their decision. Society's "safety" may be YOUR priority, but not everyone's. Nor is it the prisoner's responsibility to "abide by society's laws". The INQUIRER story mentions that this method is CHEAPER. This seems to ignore that this is the same trend with mental hospitals closing, viz: It is CHEAPER to treat mental illness OUTPATIENT with drugs than inpatient say with something that ACTUALLY ADDRESSES the PROBLEM. Drugs allow the state to quickly PROCESS lunatics. Prisoners should not be punished for the inhumane conditions maintained by the state who punishes them. Ridonk. On a side note are you familiar with FOUCAULT's work? This story has eerie similarities to the history he describes: lunatics out among us (oh no!), criminals and lunatics kept together, etc. Mental Hospitals vs. Prisons: which is better?, is probably not how this should be framed. Mental Hospitals offer many immediate benefits over prisons to prisoners, which prisoners would agree to treatment for these benefits that they might not accept without the incentive. I would view this as the state manipulating the prisoners. Instead of forced druggings of prisoners, the prisoners “willing” accept the drugs under the promise (bribe) of entering the more humane “treatment facility.” Why not improve conditions in the prisons and provide treatment within the prison for prisoners who seek it. Sensationalizing this story for this purpose seems unethical. Are there other examples of lunatics gone wild. Why is not more emphasis put on the cops and their decision. Society’s “safety” may be YOUR priority, but not everyone’s. Nor is it the prisoner’s responsibility to “abide by society’s laws”. The INQUIRER story mentions that this method is CHEAPER. This seems to ignore that this is the same trend with mental hospitals closing, viz: It is CHEAPER to treat mental illness OUTPATIENT with drugs than inpatient say with something that ACTUALLY ADDRESSES the PROBLEM. Drugs allow the state to quickly PROCESS lunatics. Prisoners should not be punished for the inhumane conditions maintained by the state who punishes them. Ridonk. On a side note are you familiar with FOUCAULT’s work? This story has eerie similarities to the history he describes: lunatics out among us (oh no!), criminals and lunatics kept together, etc.

]]> By: Sally http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5154 Sally Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:33:13 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5154 Should we have physical health courts for people who are too physically sick to obey the law? Should we have physical health courts for people who are too physically sick to obey the law?

]]> By: Aaron B. http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5155 Aaron B. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:28:54 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5155 The very nature of the existence of a "Mental Health Court" is punitive. That is why there is no other kind of "Health Court." The very nature of the existence of a “Mental Health Court” is punitive. That is why there is no other kind of “Health Court.”

]]> By: Jon http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5152 Jon Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:14:00 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5152 You're kidding yourself if you think prison is worse than a psychiatric "hospital"... both are prisons, in both your freedom of movement is removed, in one, your freedom of neurology is intact, in one your freedom of neurology is raped and stolen by the state. How dare you even attempt to claim that prison is worse. How dare you. I'm serious, you've really rubbed me the wrong way here....but I shouldn't get so worked up, I mean who are you, you're just a co-opted, indoctrinated pro force pro biopsychiatric mythology ideologue anyway. There is no greater rape than neurological rape, and that is what forced drugging is. Don't thinkyou can make such ill-informed comments online without facing those will tell you are wrong Spikol. You act like you're bought and paid for by psychiatry. You’re kidding yourself if you think prison is worse than a psychiatric “hospital”… both are prisons, in both your freedom of movement is removed, in one, your freedom of neurology is intact, in one your freedom of neurology is raped and stolen by the state. How dare you even attempt to claim that prison is worse. How dare you. I’m serious, you’ve really rubbed me the wrong way here….but I shouldn’t get so worked up, I mean who are you, you’re just a co-opted, indoctrinated pro force pro biopsychiatric mythology ideologue anyway. There is no greater rape than neurological rape, and that is what forced drugging is. Don’t thinkyou can make such ill-informed comments online without facing those will tell you are wrong Spikol. You act like you’re bought and paid for by psychiatry.

]]> By: Alison Hymes http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5153 Alison Hymes Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:05:25 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5153 I did not find your response civil Liz. You do not know if I have ever visited a prison or compared it to a hospital and I disagree completely that psychiatric units and hospitals are not punitive in nature or are all about treatment rather than social control, nice upholding the dominant oppressive paradigm towards our people though... Make prison better, don't use the horrible and shameful state of our prisons an excuse for more segregation and more forced drugging in MH courts. If you aren't against forced drugging, you have never been force drugged Liz. I did not find your response civil Liz. You do not know if I have ever visited a prison or compared it to a hospital and I disagree completely that psychiatric units and hospitals are not punitive in nature or are all about treatment rather than social control, nice upholding the dominant oppressive paradigm towards our people though… Make prison better, don’t use the horrible and shameful state of our prisons an excuse for more segregation and more forced drugging in MH courts. If you aren’t against forced drugging, you have never been force drugged Liz.

]]> By: herb http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/trouble/2009/07/09/mental-health-court-round-two/comment-page-1/#comment-5156 herb Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:55:23 +0000 http://trouble.pwblogs.com/?p=3274#comment-5156 Hi Liz, It’s a shame your reader’s perception and comments about the Philly “MH courts” differ from my reality. While I am unknowledgeable about your new court or that in any other state I can more knowledgably discuss Florida and also relate far better to your knowledge and understanding and the realistic comment of your other reader Joe who strikes a more reasonable accord as to the “the devil is in the details”. I can share that Florida State and more specifically Broward County instituted the first mental health court in the United States and was administrated and presided over by Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren who I have had the pleasure to not only listen to personally on several occasions but also have the opportunity to chat and ask questions of her. I’d also like to share that as former DBSA facilitator I chaired a number of support groups with a number participants that past through the Broward Mental Health Court and who heaped praise upon their luck and fortune. The important point they offered up was the court was sincerely intent upon seeking help for these individuals in lieu of incarceration through the criminal justice system. Warmly, Herb VNSdepression.com Hi Liz,

It’s a shame your reader’s perception and comments about the Philly “MH courts” differ from my reality. While I am unknowledgeable about your new court or that in any other state I can more knowledgably discuss Florida and also relate far better to your knowledge and understanding and the realistic comment of your other reader Joe who strikes a more reasonable accord as to the “the devil is in the details”.

I can share that Florida State and more specifically Broward County instituted the first mental health court in the United States and was administrated and presided over by Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren who I have had the pleasure to not only listen to personally on several occasions but also have the opportunity to chat and ask questions of her.

I’d also like to share that as former DBSA facilitator I chaired a number of support groups with a number participants that past through the Broward Mental Health Court and who heaped praise upon their luck and fortune. The important point they offered up was the court was sincerely intent upon seeking help for these individuals in lieu of incarceration through the criminal justice system.

Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com

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