Pennsylvania Jail Guards Use Force With Prisoners With Mental Illness

Mental Illness Prisoners Suffer Under Prison Guards

Prisoners with mental illness are often subjected to extreme physical violence by jail guards. This is an issue that is of great concern to those suffering from this condition, as well as their families. In order to protect individuals who are incarcerated with a mental health disorder, there are some important steps to take.

Stringer

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records recently overturned the county’s denials of our requests for a number of documents. They included use of force reports and details on the county’s response to a mental health case.

One report states that a woman in the jail had a mental illness so severe that her guards had to use force to keep her from harming herself. Another report lists the use of an “anti-suicide smock” and a humane restraint chair. However, none of the wardens we spoke to agreed to discuss the training and crisis response used in such incidents.

Our investigation found that more than half of the state’s 456 use of force incidents occurred when a person in a mental health crisis was involved. In many cases, the guards used force to subdue the person, causing them to suffer physical injuries and prolonging their recovery.

Taylor

If the death of Michael Taylor in Central New York State Prison had occurred in a different place or at a different time, it would have been a case of self-inflicted harm. Instead, he was killed by an assault with a long wooden stick.

Although prison officials have declined to comment on Taylor’s death, they have made no secret of their lack of expertise in dealing with inmates with mental illnesses. Experts have found that one in five inmates suffer from some sort of mental illness.

In addition to his sanity, competence, and other basic human attributes, a prisoner with a mental health condition may have difficulty performing daily tasks such as getting out of bed, brushing his teeth, or eating. These problems often make it impossible for the inmate to follow commands in a military style setting.

Snider

Snider has filed lawsuits against various prison officials, the Clinton County Correctional Facility, and the Snyder County Prison Board. He alleges a variety of violations of his civil rights. His claims include deliberate indifference to his health, housing in solitary confinement, denial of supplies, and destruction of his religious items. Specifically, he alleges that corrections officers used force against him.

In the first action, Mr. Snider alleged that several people, including a prison psychiatrist and nurse practitioner, knew of his mental illness, but did not provide treatment. The defendants in that case denied him psychiatric medication for six days. During that time, Mr. Snider reportedly suffered a “flood of mental disturbances.”

In his second action, Mr. Snider again alleges similar experiences. This time, he alleges that several corrections officers used force against him. Specifically, he alleges that Corrections Officers McKeehan and Nichtman slammed him against a concrete wall, and attempted to strangle him.

Assisted outpatient treatment programs

Assisted outpatient treatment programs for prisoners with mental illness in Pennsylvania are not in use. This is due to the lack of funding. The legislature failed to include important provisions for counties to adopt the program.

County health officials say they face a number of challenges in implementing the program. They worry about additional funding and staff shortages. However, the federal government has launched grant programs to fund the model.

A recent study found that about a quarter of the homeless population is affected by mental illness. Mental illness is a significant failure in public health. People are often homeless and in jail due to psychiatric illness.

Mental health experts say supervised outpatient treatment has been shown to reduce the revolving door of incarceration. Patients with psychiatric marijuana can lead a quality life outside of jail. Those with a court order can benefit from therapy, medications, and other forms of treatment.

Documenting your request for medical care

For most people with mental illness, a trip to the county jail isn’t a pleasant experience. Fortunately, some counties are making the effort to change that. And the results are promising. Some are putting in place new programs and strategies to keep these vulnerable people out of prison, and hopefully, out of jail.

There are a number of ways in which these facilities are trying to improve their mental health care services. In particular, some systems are asking clinicians to assess whether a patient is suited for isolation. This may exacerbate mistrust between patients and providers.

The Bucks County Jail has been using force more than a dozen times in the past month, including one case where a guard used a pepper spray to subdue a suicidal man. Nevertheless, a recent report by the nonprofit NPR revealed that at least 3 out of 4 uses of force were minor incidents.