On Wednesday, re-entry advocates, experts and activists met just blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building to discuss pressing concerns on the lack of adequate care for mental health individuals who are or were incarcerated.
The symposium, held at Georgetown University Law Center, entitled “The Mental Health Crisis in the Criminal Justice System,” was hosted by University Legal Services (with cooperation from P.E.E.R.S.) and a Georgetown University Law group. It was moderated by John Copacino of Georgetown University Law Center. They met to discuss mental health concerns for those who are incarcerated or have been released back into the D.C. community.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates as many as 3.8 million individuals have been incarcerated with mental health services needs.
Various studies have shown people who have a mental health illness and are incarcerated in a traditional prison are more likely to serve longer sentences. Additionally, they also experience higher rates of parole revocation and recidivism.
In the District of Columbia, there are serious and unique challenges between the D.C. community and police response to individuals in crisis. Due to lingering economic woes, there has been a reduction of treatment resources that are made available to those behind bars. Also, there is a growing concern of giving men and women an adequate discharge plan when they leave incarceration.
“Reform” was the most consistent word used, and judging from the full house that attended, it seems the D.C. community seeks reform as well. The town-hall style discussion went beyond talk about funding, finance, or talks of the retroactivity of recent legislation. It centered on what is going on in the mental health community and real problems by real returning citizens.
Gretchen Rohr commented, “Our hope was that this forum would connect policy-makers and administrators with those impacted by such policies and for all attending to be further informed by researchers/experts on best practices in the field.” Rohr is the DC Jail Advocate Project Director for University Legal Services.
Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) was invited and scheduled to attend, but was unable to. Davis is notable in the field because he sponsored the Second Chance Act, proposed piece of House legislation designed to offer aid and assistance to returning citizens.
The panel included Judge Michael Ryan of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Helen Mitchell (from Congressman Davis’ office), Amy Fettig (with American Civil Liberties Union), Tonia Shelton (a local D.C. advocate), Nicole Jarrett (with the Council of State Governments Justice Center) and Rohr.
Many of those in the audience said the most compelling story was given by Tonia Shelton. Shelton shared her life story as she battled with undiagnosed mental health experience in mental health recovery after her time in solitary confinement, while incarcerated.
She talked about the obstacles she faced as a young child and how she feels those setbacks led to a roller-coaster existence until one day she decided to take back control of her life.
“I didn’t how know to care for myself,” she said before an attentive crowd.
Later she said, “Finally, I was asked by a staff member at A Better Way, if I wanted to enter their transitional program…I had already decided that I was tired of living the lifestyle that got me there so I said it can’t be that bad.”
She said that eventually she graduated from the University Legal Services Peer Advocacy Training in 2010, and is a member of their P.E.E.R.S. Coalition. She also obtained her high school diploma, and stable employment with Consumer Action Network (CAN) later that year. She still works there today.
“I think there should be better protections to make sure people don’t slip through jail intake screenings and assessments, as I did,” she said. “And anyone who is subject to forced psychiatric treatment inside prison should be offered a more detailed release plan that would include mental health follow-up upon release, housing arrangements, application for insurance coverage and transportation when needed.
Finally, I think there should be better coordination between correctional agencies like CSOSA, and their relationship with the community to ensure that people receive hands-on transitional assistance after release.”
Phillip Dow, a returning citizen and symposium attendee thought the message was received loud and clear. “I sat in the audience and learned a lot more than I thought I would. I enjoyed having a chance to hear from the people that sit behind the bench or works hard on my behalf, without me even knowing.”
Another remarked that having Judge Ryan and the representative from Capitol Hill present was encouraging.
Rohr mentioned that, we are all walking away with a consensus that there are a lot of great ideas and underutilized resources we can more fully dedicate to DC residents with mental illness returning home from incarceration.
ULS and P.E.E.R.S. sponsors bimonthly meetings for those who are returning citizens, have family (who are) members incarcerated, or allies who seek to reform the current mental illness in the criminal justice system. Their next meeting is Tuesday September 13th at 6 p.m. at their office (220 I St NE, Suite 130).
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University Legal Services (ULS) is a non-profit organization located in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol Building that suffers with mental health issues and serves people with low or moderate income. ULS has a wide variety of programs that aid men, women, and children who reside in the District of Columbia. Gretchen Rohr at 202-527-7033
Georgetown Human Rights Action-Amnesty International (GHRAAI) is a group of students committed to increasing respect for human rights, globally and locally. The organization supports an abolishment of de-humanizing policies, practices, and rhetoric. . For more information on human rights programs at Georgetown Law, email ghra@law.georgetown.edu
Promoting, Empowering, Education and Re-Entry Solutions, more commonly known as “P.E.E.R.S.” is a organization committed to changing the policies, laws and practices that continue to incarcerate people with mental illness and release them into dangerous and unsupported environments. The coalition is made up of survivors of the mental health and criminal justice system, family members, advocates and other allies who lend their voice to public discourse. To learn more about the group you can contact at 202.547.0198 ext.130.
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