California Youth with Mental Illness Incarcerated When Community Service

[Judi Lynn]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 24, 2005
11:30 AM
CONTACT: Rep. Henry A. Waxman
Karen Lightfoot, 202-225-5051


California Youth with Mental Illness Incarcerated When Community Services Unavailable

WASHINGTON -- January 24 -- Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman released a report finding that over half of California's juvenile detention facilities inappropriately incarcerate youth waiting for mental health treatment. The report reveals:

• On an average night, over 250 California youth are jailed because community treatment services are not available;
  
• These youth are as young as eight years old;
  
• Some have no charges of any kind pending against them; and
  
• The estimated annual cost of inappropriate detention exceeds $10 million.

(snip/...)

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0124-12.htm

[ernstbass]

1. This is sickening

what a vulnerable population to put in detention!

[Skidmore]

2. Part of Reagan's legacy

Reagan emptied the mental health institutions without replacing them with adequate supports in the community. Now are prisons are basically holding tanks for many with mental health issues.

[EFerrari]

3. The world's largest single provider of mental health services

is Los Angeles County Jail. And as a family advocate who worked with people in and out of there, I have to say they are providers in name only.

[AlCzervik]

4. Nearly every week there is some new horror story about the CYA

they need a full scale investigation into this matter and all the suicides that happen in their facilities.

[Sequoia]

5. Ole Ahnold won't hear of it, no way, those guards are his

"base", and since prisons are run by corporations....well it's time to storm the Bastille.

[cornermouse]

6. California's not the only place this is happening.