Caught in the Revolving Door

In Texas, jails and prisons have become synonymous with mental institutions. Psychologically ill persons are increasingly being placed in jails as a substitute for adequate mental health attention. As of today, an estimated 20% of inmates in Texas jails and prisons suffer from serious mental ailments such as: schizophrenia, maniac-depressive disorder, and major depression.

    "The Texas Health and Safety Code art. 571.003(14) defines mental illness as an illness, disease, or condition, other than epilepsy, senility, alcoholism, or mental deficiency, that: (A) substantially impairs a person's thought, perception of reality, emotional process, or judgment, or (B) grossly impairs behavior as demonstrated by recent disturbed behavior" (Attorney handbook).

In 2007 Texas was among seven of the selected states to participate in a research study aiming to determine the number of mentally ill individuals currently incarcerated. The study found that in Harris county Jail 17.3 percent of the inmates were on psychotropic medications. The costs of treating these individuals amounts to $87 million annually, and with reduced funding for treatment of mental health, the cost is certain to rise.

Current laws make it difficult to treat mental patients effectively, and in turn cost the state twice as much to keep a psychiatric inmate in jail than the average inmate. Money, however, is not the only thing at stake – psychological and physical health is also severely affected. Inmates suffering from mental illnesses are often the targets of other inmates, as they are more likely to become the victims of harassment and violent crimes. A jail has been proven to serve as the opposite of a therapeutic environment - where mental health declines and the possibility of relapsing increases. Indeed, a staggering number of prisoners return to jail after being released, most times after having committed the same crime, for which they are typically detained twice as long as others. This discouraging cycle is evident in most of the detainees. During their stay at jail, mental patients are treated separately, yet inefficiently with countless medications; this yet another cost to the state and its residents.

It is not simply an issue tax payers face, but psychiatric institutions as well. Since Legislature reduced mental health funding in 2004, jails and psychiatric institutions alike are experiencing overflowing capacity. Because the mental health sector has reduced funding, fewer personnel are able to tend to patients, leaving jail cells to function as hospital rooms, and sheriffs as psychotherapists. 

Prompt action is crucial to the wellbeing of truly mentally ill inmates; prolonging a solution is bound to give rise to progressively futile spending.

                     

Occupy Austin With Cardboard

A spectacle is taking place across the nation as groups of people take to the streets with demands for a better country, improved economy, and, well, a whole lot more. Blogger Neil Aquino from the Texas Liberal is a supporter of the Occupy Wall Street movement which began in Washington D.C. on September 17^th.  As a tax payer and voter in every election, he demands “a fair decent society where people can find a decent job and where everybody pays a fair share of the taxes we need to run our local, state and federal governments.” Directly below the blog’s title is the picture of a multitude of people, the focus being a woman holding a sign that reads “I WANT TO WORK.” By an analysis of the blog entry, it appears that the protesters’ main concern is the high unemployment rate in the United States, as well as in Texas. Aquino urges his online liberal readers to take part in the Occupy effort which is taking place, not only in Washington D.C., but in many cities across Texas. The author provides links to outside sources-including Facebook groups-which serve to provide supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement a common organizing medium. The author also provides his readers with links to his friends’ blogs, news articles relating to Perry, women’s health, and the presidential candidates.

Immediately upon attempting to read the blog, one is inundated with too many blue links to follow. The author fails to articulate his concerns in a thorough manner, but rather encourages his readers to support a cause which is explained through links leading to Facebook groups and blogs all advocating diverse issues. The reality is, the Occupy movement has gained momentum, yet this momentum relies on fear and worry. Citizens with concerns of the future are gathering demands of money and security from poverty. Granted, their stress is warranted, however, their list of requests is too broad to act on.

Many of their demands are irrational, even silly: free college education, one trillion dollars to restore forests, incarcerating Wall Street millionaires, investigations of the 9/11 terrorist attack, saving puppies, etc. Media sources have taken this as an opportunity to ridicule the supporters of Occupy Wall Street. FOX titles their news article “Read Demands of ‘OccupyWall Street’… and Try Not to Laugh,” while original supporters of the movement have a change of heart and decide to list all that is wrong with the demands. In Austin, the movement has sparked interest. People have gathered in City Hall holding cardboards supporting the Austin Police Department, and protesting against the New York Police Department; others ask CEOs to be paid $13.00 an hour; in school, students ask other students to walk out of class in protest saying “It’s your right.” Perhaps a more united front would produce enough credibility, but for now, their efforts amount to little more than a media sensation.