JAIL IS THE LAST THING THAThttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/08/60minutes/main2448074.shtml
NOTICE: We're discussing a large class action lawsuit by people incarcerated for mental illness or their relatives and next friends on their behalf. Mental illness is the only disability treated legally, not medically. If a diabetic man blacks out at the wheel and injures or kills commuters, he goes to the hospital. If a psychiatric patient kills or injures, he goes to prison. If a woman has a heart attack in the china store, falls and breaks plates, she goes to the hospital. If a bipolar sufferer has a crisis and breaks plates, she goes to prison. We will sue for PSYCHIATRIC PARITY UNDER THE LAW. Each person who opts in will need to pay around $100 to help raise the legal retainer. We will demand that mentally ill people go to hospitals or are released under Kendra's law. There are 1.25 million incarcerated mental patients, so it should be a large class. Give me your thoughts. We're at the planning stage and talking with other prisoner activists. If you would like to discuss it with us, eMail me at MaryLovesJustice@gmail.com
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YOU ARE INVITED to the HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PRISONERS MARCH. March across the Internet and demand respect for all people. An in-person demonstration date will be scheduled. See a list of 25 reasons why:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/1114734
Prison conditions within some U.S. facilities are nearly as bad as those in the War on Terror camps. See this VIDEO
(Beware - graphic violence, nudity, and death):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWxpQ87C4t4
MORE VIDEOS: http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=17280&pst=842947
Numerous improvements are being made, and promising laws are pending. Our advocacy is intended in part to support:
~ Sen. Jim Webb (VA-D) introduced The National Criminal Justice Act of 2009 calling for a national commission to "undertake a top-to-bottom review of our entire criminal justice system."
~ Rep. Johnson (TX-30) introduced H.R. 619 to resume Medicaid payments for care in mental institutions (withdrawal of these funds helped cause hospital closings); and H.R. 766 to provide counseling regarding housing and finances for individuals before their release from inpatient or residential institutions.
Bridge in the Mist, by Moringjoy
Welcome to AIMI
Thank you for joining the group!
1.25 MILLION AMERICANS ARE MENTALLY ILL PRISONERS. Together with other human rights activists and organizations, we can decriminalize mental illness and become a bridge in the mist for incarcerated mental patients to a more humane existence.Prisoners with mental dysfunctions should be either hospitalized or cared for in their communities, depending on their offenses and the severity of their conditions, not imprisoned! Disabled people should not be jailed for their handicaps.
AIMI is a group for those with a commitment to HUMAN RIGHTS to come together and promote decriminalization of mental illness and help remove the stigma associated with this condition. AIMI gives no psychiatric, medical, or legal advice or referrals. Our goals are simply to educate the public on the seriousness of the issue and promote change in how mental illness is dealt with by our legislators and law enforcement.
AIMI seeks to work with others to help (a) remove barriers to timely treatment, thereby reducing the number of patients who must be removed from society, and (b) see that acute patients who do require containment become hospital inpatients, not prison inmates. It is morally wrong and more expensive for taxpayers to prosecute rather than treat psychiatric patients.
Homelessness, prison, and death must not continue to be America's answers to mental illness.
LOVE DOGS? I do, but cannot agree that their deaths are more deserving of investigation than American citizens'. See my poem, Dog Justice, in three languages at this link. http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/dog-justice-mary-neal
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL!
Dog Justice Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html
ALL NEW MEMBERS are invited to introduce yourselves at the pink "Welcome, Intros, Getting to Know You" tab below! Much of our subject matter in this group is disturbing, but you will enjoy interacting with members and helping to effect positive Change.
See the case that started AIMI:
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com
Mary Neal
Articles: http://nowPublic.com/duo
Mary's Care2 Page: http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=513396753
Care2 Blog: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/sharebook/html?pid=513396753
AIMI Photo Album: http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/217/513396753/AIMI_Photo_Album/
More Links at Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/MaryLovesJustice
For many videos and stories of abuses to the incarcerated mentally ill and others and in our communities, visit Mary Neal's blog at http://freespeakblog.blogspot.com - Also, visit my column on HubPages - Steps Toward Justice, a periodic review highlighting events, people, and organizations that promote justice - http://hubpages.com/hub/Mary-Neal-on-Hub - My HubPages report only good news. Positive CHANGE is underway. Thanks for caring about justice and about prisoners.
CONTACT INFORMATION
e-Mail addresses: marylovesjustice@gmail.com
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Dorothea Lynde Dix (April 4, 1802 - July 17, 1887)
ASSISTANCE TO THE INCARCERATED MENTALLY ILL ("AIMI") WORKS IN THE TRADITION OF DOROTHEA DIX, a highly effective human rights advocate on behalf of the indigent mentally ill during the 19th century. Dix was the daughter of a mentally ill man who had compassion for sick people. She went to a prison to give Sunday school lessons and was appalled at the inhumane conditions under which mentally ill detainees were kept, similar to today's abusive incarceration. Dix was singularly responsible for delivering the mentally ill out of prisons and into treatment during her lifetime. Now they are back in prison, frequently suffering abuse and neglect - even wrongful death. We must again decriminalize mental illness. More about Ms. Dix:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/865865
Members, please use the blue "Petitions, Call to Action" tab below to help decriminalize mental illness and assist with other pressing justice issues. YOU ARE THE NEEDED CHANGE. Thanks!
Mary Neal's Sharebook
- Judge: Andre Thomas Is Clearly Crazy but Sane Under TX Law 2 months ago
- Prisoners' Wives - TV Show Wants to Interview You 2 months ago
- POLL: Should Thomas Arthur Be Executed for Telling a Fibb? by Mary Neal 2 months ago
- CYBERWAR (NY Times Article) 2 months ago
- Take a Poll: Should Inmates Have a Chance to Prove Their Innocence? 2 months ago
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- 220 members
- Visibility: open
- Membership: open
- Mailing List:
AIMI@groups.care2.com
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