Why Do We Imprison Pretrial
People
With Mental Illness?
Alen J Salerian MD
Persecution of people
with mental illness has been a sad reality since ancient times. It seems that
discriminatory influences are currently
reinforced by routine department of justice practices.
It is true that at present -without clinical necessity- a person
with possible mental illness could be
forced to be hospitalized before
trial. Under any circumstances
psychiatric hospitalization is stressful . Psychiatric
hospitalization in a prison system is very stressful and at a great cost to
taxpayers. In year 2014 in America It is difficult to accept this practice of routine imprisonment
of pretrial people with mental illness . This
practice is a vestige of ignorant prejudice which i endured
personally.
I was not suicidal , homicidal or a threat to anyone . I was not a security risk yet I was ordered to be imprisoned for mental examination. At FMC Butner I have met hundreds of people victimized by our prejudicial laws.
I was not suicidal , homicidal or a threat to anyone . I was not a security risk yet I was ordered to be imprisoned for mental examination. At FMC Butner I have met hundreds of people victimized by our prejudicial laws.
This is one of the reasons I'm still trying to meet with my Senator.
I'm hopeful that I may hear some helpful feedback on this very issue at
my trial in Abington Virginia on December 10, 2014.
My thoughts are with you. It seems there is no end to this nightmare. If there were anything I thought I could do, I would have done so long ago.
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