New Federal Investigation Targets Treatment of Institutionalized People With Disabilities
“The federal government has launched a civil rights investigation into the West Virginia Department of Human Resources’ treatment of persons with disabilities who are in the state agency’s care.” This reporting from West Virginia Public Broadcasting discusses examples of what CripJustice would regard as “medical incarceration” occurring due to a lack of “appropriate placements” for […]
Indiana DOC lawsuit: Mentally ill Black inmates are majority in segregation
This piece from NPR illustrates the intersection of racism, criminal justice, and mental illness that leads to medical incarceration. “Black inmates who need mental health care spend more time in segregation and far less time with counselors than their white counterparts in Illinois prisons, according to a new complaint filed in federal court seeking better […]
Pittsburgh: Healing or dehumanizing – Experts explore the rise in involuntary psychiatric commitment petitions
Involuntary psychiatric commitment is a form of medical incarceration where an individual is confined at a psychiatric hospital without their consent. “Amanda, I’m so sorry. The cops are here.” Panic shot through Amanda Wilson as she looked up from the hammock chair on the back deck of her Millvale home, taking in the grim expression […]
Medical Incarceration: A Minnesota teen struggling with severe mental illness and charged with numerous crimes sat in juvenile detention, often isolated.
This young person’s mental illness has led to many inadequate treatment and housing options, and extensive dual involvement in both the mental health system and juvenile justice system. This reporting explains why one young man, despite being deemed incompetent to serve trial by the court, chose to go to prison in an attempt to get […]
Lousiana: Juvenile offender with mental illness tried as an adult, sent to solitary confinement on death row.
Placing inmates in solitary confinement for their physical and/or mental safety is a form of medical incarceration. It’s extremely counter-productive due to the astronomical exacerbation of mental illness done by solitary, especially for youth. According to reporting by eyewitness investigator Mike Perlstein, Alonzo Defillo Jr. ended up on death row at the nation’s bloodiest prison, […]