by Michael Mackey, San Quentin State Prison, CA
Well, all right all right, how’s everyone doing on what was a fine day. My name is Michael Mackey and I’m here today to be an advocate for the incarcerated mentally ill.
Question, by a show of hands, how many of you in the audience right now, have been incarcerated for over five years? (Interesting). The ones that have been locked up for that long are the ones most affected by this problem and we should be able to fix this problem.
See there’s around 200,00 incarcerated men and women dealing with mental illnesses for decades and despite recognition, prisons are the de facto mental hospitals. I’ve only been to four prisons on this journey of mines and I’ve often found myself shaking my head in disbelieve, while watching the incarcerated mentally ill walking the yard.
In 2015, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, asserted that, prisons are no place for long term care for the mentally ill, for both states, psychological or Cognitive. However, background consideration locking up the mentally ill, I propose this project of mine seeking to change the false narrative that has been stamped on incarcerated individuals dealing with mental illnesses.
Men and women who suffer from developmental disabilities are in prisons that are counter-productive to proper treatment. In fact prisons should not be the dumping grounds for the mentally ill, that’s denied them of their basic human right for proper treatment, which is inhumane.
I propose that each individual be placed in facilities that will ensure they receive the proper level of care. Furthermore, creating legislation that provides individuals with mental disorders filled with protection within the criminal justice system, equal to those granted to other individuals with useful resources and even contact with their families. This is important and can also add to the promotion of good mental health and how the local police deal with the mentally ill on the street and behind the prison walls.
One highly important reform that’s needed nationwide is CIT (Crisis Intervention Teams). As I’ve said before, every individual even those with mental disorders have the right for a proper level of care, to be treated respectfully, and as human beings. Conditions and confinement in prisons must meet the human right standard.
Mental health legislation can be very powerful if used right by protecting the mentally ill and non-mentally ill individuals. Why is it that the mental health laws in other countries are so damn outdated, starved to death of funding and never mentioned.
My theory is by creating a solid legal provision that center-stacks their needs will help strengthen the rights of individuals for better care treatment. But to refuse this treatment or to appeal decisions of involuntary treatment, is that individual’s choice. This will protect from discrimination even violence, and other cruel degrading treatment, including abuse of medication and medical experimentations.
Legislation should provide mentally ill individuals with equal protection within the criminal Justice System, equal to those for other inmates, like Independent Inspections such as (Mental Healthy Visiting Brands). This can be put into play through legislations to inspect prisons, as well as other mental health facilities to monitor conditions for the mentally ill. Many problems and issues can be solved by bringing relevant ministries and other actors together to talk about the needs of individuals dealing with mental health issues.
Using the criminal justice system to respond to mental illness is counter productive because incarceration causes mental disabilities. I think the best solution is diversion programs which will shift mentally ill individuals from entering the criminal justice system and toward meaningful facilities that suits them best; way before they are booked for a crime, and even afterward.
In New Jersey, a 65 year old mentally ill stockbroker was stomped to death in Camden County Jail all because officers there, were never trained on how to deal with the mentally ill. They also have a lack of diversion programs. These programs have been shown not only to reduce jail and prison population but also to save money.
Miami Florida, you been there? Yeah, you have. I can tell by your tan. Dade County has a successful Diversion Program for individuals with mental health issues, aside from the criminal justice system. I truly do hope people can see the benefits of investing in my proposal that makes a diversion program useful. There can be support from many communities, housing and many other things that will arise from this reform.
So, by all means my proposal will help reduce mass incarceration but most importantly, it’s fair. Background consideration, looking up the mentally ill, is important because they have mental disabilities that the government and CDCR overlook or are unwilling to treat, effectively. This is hella irresponsible and hella suspect.
So in closing let me say, kindness is synonymous with mental health. The gifts of kindness and its qualities are barriers, for example. Why are grateful people more efficient? Why are those who feel a sense of belonging less depressed? Why is it that if you smile, you look more attractive? Why is it advantageous to take care of a pet?
Why do the elderly who can talk more with others, have less probability of contacting Alzheimer’s Disease? Why do children who receive more love and attention (like Mackey) grow healthier and are more intelligent?
Because they are all aspects of kindness, the same kindness we can give to all incarcerated mentally ill individuals.