Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Are You Crazy...?


Somehow this report doesn't surprise me one little bit!

I mean, I always thought that most folks in prison had to have a mental problem in the first place...and this story does indeed point out just how scary this situation is.

One of the really bad things about it is that the majority of these people are going to be released without treatment of any kind! Reason enough to worry, but consider that there is probably many more just as bad that are already walking the streets!

If you don't believe that, just read any paper or watch any newscast! Parents killing or beating their children, home invasions, carjackings, kidnapping, rape...the list goes on and on! My friends, these are NOT the actions of totally sane individuals!

When you figure in the complete collapse of the moral fiber that once was the rule, other than the exception, and it should come as no surprise that so many are suffering from inner demons! Probably would be an act of kindness to put a lot of them out of their misery, but then who is going to judge them?

The Justice system is so broken in this country right now, that a slap on the wrist is becoming more and more the action of choice. This is NOT justice and is by no means true punishment!

So, get ready for another wave of crazies to be running the streets and rural roads around your homes, courtesy of the totally screwed up system now in place!

16 percent of Texas inmates suffer mental illness

© 2010 The Associated Press
Aug. 7, 2010, 7:03PM

SAN ANTONIO — At least 16 percent of Texas inmates are mentally ill and some counties in the state don't follow a law passed last year requiring a swift psychiatric evaluation of those suspected to be mentally ill, according to a newspaper investigation.

The San Antonio Express-News reported Saturday that courts are supposed to order the exams before proceeding with trials in a process designed to usher inmates who need help into treatment. Instead, many inmates languish in their cells for months or years, waiting for hospital beds to become available.

In the Bexar County Jail, about 21 percent of inmates suffer from mental illness. About 100 of the jail's inmates are waiting for beds at the state hospital, Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz said.

But such beds could soon become even more scarce. The state Health and Human Services Commission has proposed slashing 183 beds from five state hospitals in the next two years, including 44 beds in San Antonio. It's part of a statewide cost-cutting move in the face of budget shortfalls.

The problem isn't just in San Antonio. Statewide, there are about 350 nonviolent inmates on a forensic bed waiting list. Such beds are for defendants deemed too mentally ill to stand trial.

"I've got 103 in jail right now waiting to go to the state hospital," said Ron Stretcher, criminal justice director of Dallas County.

Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside! Maybe it's still safe for a little while, ya think?

12 comments:

Kathie said...

Oh my, this is scary and if this is true in San Antonio, then I am sure it's also true in my state ( Ohio). Like you I assume most people who break the law have some sort of mental issue to start with, but some are much worse than others and need to be locked up and treated as well.
Great article, Jim, good to see you back even if you only were gone one day. I missed your blog.
Kathie

Ben in Texas said...

Jim, Question for ya, Could it be that these " inmates suffer from mental illness" are really fine, and it's just that their fancy talking lawyers had gotten them classified that way to escape a more harsh sentence?

vlad said...

When I worked for TDC I had classes at Sam Houston SU, Huntsville. Dr George Beto, former Director TDC, remarked in class, "For every one hundred felonies commited there are three arrests and one and one half convictions." I asked, "Sir. What is the point of having prisons?"
Dr Beto stated, "Prisons are magnificently irrelevant."
For every violent, predatory thug locked in prison there are about fifty prowling the streets looking for fresh prey."
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=69411&highlight=stanford+experiment

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

We´ve had much the same problems over here, but after some rather nasty murders they finally understood that they need more money to help these people.

So instead of getting to prison they now get help with their mental disorders. Some will of course never get out on the street again since they are incurable.

They are also giving more money to search for these people before they do anything. But it´s to bad they have to do such nasty things before anyone with power reacts!!

have a great day now!
Christer.

Bob from Athens said...

Generally it all comes down to money,(taxes), we all say we want better more efficient prisons and hospitals for the criminally insane, however when it comes time to vote for more tax money to get them we say no way.

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One
Well you know I have first hand experience with this one. Person beats someone half to death in a bar and gets 2 yrs! 2 yrs! Now he has murdered someone. I am are sure they will call him mentally ill. I was asked if he ever had a mental check up. My reply was yes and further more in AZ. before they go to prison they are sent to a facility to be or supposed to have a mental health test and other medical tests. So there you are. Cracks in the system.

Catman said...

Jim,

This is a paraphrase of something I once heard:

Our job is not to judge them. That is God's responsibility. Our job is to arrange the meeting.

Mechanic in Illinois said...

First off the PTB need to quit worrying about seat belt and other insignificant laws that tie up the police and put them on cases against the people. Put them where they're needed and not where they're fleecing the public for money. Thsnks for another great lesson.

HermitJim said...

Hey Kathie...
Sad to say, it's a problem in every state as far as I know! Geting worse instead of better!

Glad you missed my lazy ol' butt! Just had to have some down tim, ya know?

Thanks, girl, for coming by today!


Hey Ben...
That certainly always a possibility! Laywers are always looking for the best deal for their client regardless of justice!

Another one of those things we will never fix, I guess!

Thanks for the visit, my friend!


Hey Vlad...
Does sort of make you wonder, doesn't it? I'm thinking that there must be a better way to handle this, but I can't begin to see what it is!

Sort of a "Catch 22" situation!

Thanks for dropping in today!


Hey Christer...
I think the PTB have a tendency to overlook this problem if it doesn't affect them directly!

Sooner or later, someone will come up with an answer...I hope!

Thanks for the visit today !


Hey Bob...
Like I said, sort of a Catch 22 situation!

Pretty scary all around, that's for sure!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
Doesn't seem to be much reason to check for illness, if they won't or can't do anything to fix the problem!

I don't know the answer! Wish I did!

Thanks, sweetie, for stopping in today!


Hey Catman...
I've heard that before, and I'm starting to believe it's not a bad idea!

Getting cranky, I guess!

Thanks, buddy, for coming over today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Mechanic...
Unfortunately, here in Houston the police are sometimes a big part of the problem!

Wouldn't hurt to have some stronger mental test for those wanting to be police officers!

Does seem at times like the focus is on the wrong things, doesn't it?

Thanks, buddy, for coming in today!

Anonymous said...

Im with Ben and Catman on this one.

HermitJim said...

Hey Nick...
Might be the best way to go all around! Certainly an option!

Thanks for coming by!