Bedlam by Kenneth Paul Rosenberg

Author:Kenneth Paul Rosenberg [Rosenberg, Kenneth Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

• • •

Two years after his encounter with Nurse Practitioner Ellis in the Psych ED, Monte was arrested for breaking the window at a 7-Eleven while in the midst of a manic episode. He had gone off his medication. The cost of damages to the convenience store—more than $400—made his crime a felony, which meant a third “strike” on his record that would bring a mandatory three years in California state prison.

Monte walks into the courtroom in a fluorescent yellow shirt printed with the words LA COUNTY JAIL and sits quietly at a table, his hands behind his back in two sets of handcuffs linked together to accommodate his considerable size. His lawyer had argued, with Patrisse’s prodding, that what Monte needs is a treatment bed, not a cell. Now the judge would issue his verdict.

He calls the court to order. “I’ve got a report about whether you would be a good candidate for this program. If you were to be placed into this program, it might do you some good. You’re charged in count one with destruction of property with a value of more than $400. It’s a felony. Do you understand the charge against you?”

“Yes, sir,” Monte replies.

If the judge goes ahead, Monte will have to undergo mental health treatment for up to a year under the supervision of the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. “It’s going to be tighter supervision than ordinary probation, but if you’re willing to do it we’re willing to try and hook you up with the people who can give you help,” the judge says.

Although the court rules in his favor, Monte remains in the Twin Towers of LA County Jail for four months until a treatment bed can be found. Patrisse tells me that her brother is a “gentle giant,” but when the treatment centers interview him, they only see the “giant” part. Still, Monte is undoubtedly one of the lucky ones: because his case was heard by a judge who believes in the MHC approach, he is redirected from jail to treatment. Now he has a shot at reclaiming his health. And because he has a loyal support team, he is in much better stead than people like Debbie.

The idea of MHCs took off after drug courts, which were introduced in 1989, began to provide court-supervised, structured, community-based treatment for addiction.9 Today the number of MHCs has grown from four jurisdictions in 1997 to more than 350, with programs in almost every state.10 These programs reduce rates of re-arrest and re-incarceration among participants,11 and even if they are re-arrested, participants tend to get charged with less serious crimes, and to go longer before re-offending, as well as being significantly less likely to commit violent acts than other detainees.12 Although MHCs have become more prevalent in the last two decades, most people still don’t know about them.

That a judge can dictate the terms of long-term medical care that can possibly involve involuntary institutionalization and the administration of mind-altering medicines with serious side effects is concerning, right? But like it or not, mandated treatment works.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.