Twice the punishment
"Prisoners with mental illnesses suffer neglect and alienation, as well as the sentence handed down. The WI is campaigning for change".
"Following three months of debate in every branch in England and Wales, delegates at the Women's Institute (WI) national conference in Liverpool yesterday voted overwhelmingly – 6,205 in favour and 173 against - to call a halt to the inappropriate imprisonment of people who are mentally ill. This heralds the start of a powerful WI campaign which will see ministers, MPs, courts, health and prison authorities called upon to introduce far-reaching reforms.
It is difficult to think of anywhere more likely to make the mentally ill worse and drive some people to despair than the bleak, impersonal environment of an overcrowded prison. Last year alone 92 people committed suicide in prison and over 22,000 harmed themselves repeatedly".
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
Hmmm, you know, various people have opined from time to time that prison may in fact be the best place for the mentally ill - at least in comparison to the services that are offered in the communities. Without money, many become homeless and receive no treatment whatsoever. At least in prison, they have a roof over their heads, a place to sleep, food to eat, and they can receive consistent care (even with the care that is offered in prison being substandard). It's sad that services in the community are so bad that even prison is viewed as better, but it's an interesting theory.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad reflection on care in the community when people go to prison for security...
ReplyDelete