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As we mourn the horrific murder of Jordan Neely and join his community in rage, we are compelled to share some stories from our work that show the routine brutalization and criminalization of people with mental illness. 🧵
We hope these stories will radicalize you as they have moved our communities to question the current paradigms of public safety.
Most of these stories are deeply troubling. Almost all are clear examples where harm could have been prevented.
Please take care with the content.
Most of these stories are deeply troubling. Almost all are clear examples where harm could have been prevented.
Please take care with the content.
When we began this work in 2006, we knew almost nothing about the intersection of mental health and the punishment system.
As time passed, we heard more and more from families whose loved ones were being arrested in mental health crises.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
As time passed, we heard more and more from families whose loved ones were being arrested in mental health crises.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
Now, 8 out of 10 calls we receive pertain to people with mental illness and/ intellectual and developmental disabilities, caged in overcrowded and deadly jails.
One such call was from Havilah's family in Smith county.
All images and video shared with Havilah's permission.
One such call was from Havilah's family in Smith county.
All images and video shared with Havilah's permission.
In July 2021, our community organizer received a distress call from Karen who is 27 yr old Havilah’s mom.
Karen had just found out that her daughter Havilah was in Smith county jail.
What Karen could not understand was why.
Karen had just found out that her daughter Havilah was in Smith county jail.
What Karen could not understand was why.
Havilah was a regular client of the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA).
Karen had called their crisis line earlier that day because Havilah’s new meds had triggered a psychotic episode.
EMTs had to sedate Havilah *THREE TIMES* before transporting her to the hospital.
Karen had called their crisis line earlier that day because Havilah’s new meds had triggered a psychotic episode.
EMTs had to sedate Havilah *THREE TIMES* before transporting her to the hospital.
Within hours of being at the hospital, Havilah was arrested, charged with a third degree felony and booked into the overcrowded and non-compliant Smith county jail where 26 people have died in the past decade.
The deputy in charge decided that it was “in the best interest of Havilah” to arrest and charge her for symptoms of her illness instead of letting her stabilize at the hospital.
It is important to note here that the deputy sustained no injuries or harm.
It is important to note here that the deputy sustained no injuries or harm.
It took us three days to organize funds for her $2,500 bond. Note Havilah's inability to engage in her own magistration hearing.
As soon as she was released, our organizer and a @NAMITexas community volunteer drove Havilah and her mother straight to Terrell State Hospital.
As soon as she was released, our organizer and a @NAMITexas community volunteer drove Havilah and her mother straight to Terrell State Hospital.
Havilah was in active psychosis during the entire 1.5 hour drive.
Terrell State Hospital not only violated federal EMTALA law by NOT admitting Havilah, but instead called the local police to have her forcibly removed.
Officers forcibly restrained her & used a net to transport her to their squad car.
Officers forcibly restrained her & used a net to transport her to their squad car.
You can hear one of the police officers response in the video to Havilah’s fear of being dropped.
“I know it's uncomfortable but you put yourself in this position.…we gave you ample opportunity."
“I know it's uncomfortable but you put yourself in this position.…we gave you ample opportunity."
After much begging and pleading from our organizer and Havilah’s mother, the officers agreed not to arrest her.
We drove Havilah to a neighboring county hospital two hours away where she was admitted for less than ten days.
We drove Havilah to a neighboring county hospital two hours away where she was admitted for less than ten days.
A few weeks later, the DA decided not to prosecute Havilah.
By then, Havilah’s family had grown so frustrated with the services of their LMHA, that they decided that the only way to keep Havilah safe was to move out of Texas.
In Dec 2021, Smith county refunded our $2,500 bond.
By then, Havilah’s family had grown so frustrated with the services of their LMHA, that they decided that the only way to keep Havilah safe was to move out of Texas.
In Dec 2021, Smith county refunded our $2,500 bond.
As horrifying as it is, Havilah’s story is neither unique nor unusual.
We routinely hear about community members not only *NOT* receiving mental health care at the right time at the right place, but being aggressively criminalized for the symptoms arising from their illnesses.
We routinely hear about community members not only *NOT* receiving mental health care at the right time at the right place, but being aggressively criminalized for the symptoms arising from their illnesses.
The logical, humane and fiscally responsible solution would be to prioritize their care in the right setting at the right time, not punish them.
In FY 2022, as per @TxCommJailStand out of 887,404 jail bookings, 49,436 were confirmed & active clients of LMHAs operating under the TX Dept of Health & Human Services.
An additional 252,607 were “probable” matches for the CCQ (Continuity Of Care Query) checks that are mandated during jail bookings as per the Sandra Bland Act.
Per @PrisonPolicy over 44% of people locked up in local jails have a mental health disorder.
Per @PrisonPolicy over 44% of people locked up in local jails have a mental health disorder.
Instead of paying lip service to #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we need to question why our loved ones are being arrested from places that are supposed to provide them with healthcare.
We need to challenge current state policies and patterns of practice.
#CareNotCages
We need to challenge current state policies and patterns of practice.
#CareNotCages
Why is the health and safety of our most vulnerable and disenfranchised members not prioritized?
Why have we decided as a society to keep punishing people with mental illness instead of boldly and collectively reimagining and creating meaningful systems of care?
Why have we decided as a society to keep punishing people with mental illness instead of boldly and collectively reimagining and creating meaningful systems of care?
As @jduffyrice so aptly said, "Limited imaginations are an epidemic."
https://twitter.com/jduffyrice/status/1653913868102500352?t=9GF9R91F9vPC5z3RVJeBCA&s=03/
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