Prisons and the mentally ill

[duhneece]

Surely I am having one of those mentally ill days. I can't get this post from a friend on fb out of my mind and I keep having tears run down my cheeks. Usually, I'm the one with some sort of positive come-back. Not today:
"Back at the prison and sad. They are going to send BF to the Estelle Unit in South Texas. If ever there was a man-child BF is it. Definite psych case with the mind of a young boy. They made the mistake of putting him a cell with three other men. Two were fine but the the third one was a demonstrative nut with numerous incident reports and cell extractions. During one of his tantrums BF made the mistake of promising to beat the hell out of him if he did not shut up. So now BF is being sent away.

The psych drugs they give him knock him out for hours and this when they get raped. Texas can sure suck sometimes. Don't send the troublemakers, send the ones ending it. I'll pray for BF. His mom has died since he came in and now there is nobody to accept him on parole."

[elleng]

1. With you, and BF, duhneece.

[MineralMan]

2. It's a shame on us that we use our prison system

to confine mentally ill people. We need hospitals for that purpose. Prisons are not a suitable facility in any way. I'm sorry to hear about this.

[pipoman]

3. Thanks Raygun

For defunding mental health services and expanding the prison system to accomidate people with mental health issues.

[KT2000]

4. This has got to stop

How could this possibly be legal.
My friend whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, spends much of her time reviewing her son's life and the torture she knew he was going through as he was in and out of prisons. He was small, handsome and used for sex. I'm sure much of his acting out was to try to stop what was happening to him, but likely got him into even more trouble.
Every effort on her part was to get him treatment and safety but nothing worked. He has died but she lives her life with the memory of her failed efforts and his suffering at the hands of our government. It is so sad.

Exactly what law is in place that requires the mentally ill to be imprisoned this way or is it the default position that everyone just goes along with. Has anyone challenged this on behalf of the mentally ill? How can someone be held criminally liable for an illness. It does not make sense.

[duhneece]

5. Thank you all for letting me express my hurt

Being able to go to DU when I hurt over hearing heartbreaking news has kept me sane on more than one occasion. Thank you all. We WILL go forward together to that more beloved community.