Families of Prisoners Support Group
This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.
Taycheedah Correctional Institution agrees to federal demands
Its ordered to improve mental health care for women
By JOHN DIEDRICH
jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 6, 2008
Under the threat of a federal lawsuit, Wisconsin officials have promised to make wide-ranging improvements to mental health care for women being held at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, according to an agreement made public Friday.
The agreement between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice is the latest development in a nearly decade-long push for reform of health care inside Taycheedah, where federal investigators found mentally ill prisoners some as young as 15 locked in isolation cells and given psychotropic drugs for months without a doctors oversight.
In a prelude to a federal lawsuit, U.S.
Attorney General Michael Mukasey in January signed a complaint that said Wisconsin has shown deliberate indifference to the mental health needs of women in the prison. That complaint was released Friday.
Federal officials have agreed to hold off on a lawsuit, giving the state four years to implement changes, but action could still be taken if the state doesnt live up to the 34-page agreement.
The Department of Corrections already has made several improvements to care for women inmates, including adding just over 33 positions, planning a new 45-bed care wing and adding programs, said John Dipko, department spokesman.
We have made a lot of progress in care, and there is more progress to be made, he said. Both sides have agreed to try to resolve the matter, allowing more resources to be directed away from litigation and toward improved care.
Alluding to other cases brought by his office, U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic said in a statement that this agreement shows his commitment to protecting rights.
We will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights matters, whether they involve police officers, nightclubs, residential dwellings or prison facilities, the statement said.
An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said the agreement signifies progress, but it isnt specific enough and gives the state too long to make reforms.
This is a move in the right direction, said Larry Dupuis, the groups legal director. On a global scale, our biggest problem is the amount of time given to do this when there are people at risk in an immediate way.
The ACLU has filed a class-action lawsuit seeking to force improvements not only in prisoners mental health care but also in medical and dental care.
In a separate lawsuit, the state last month agreed to pay $635,000 to the family of an 18-year-old woman who in 2005 reportedly pleaded for psychiatric help for days and then committed suicide while in Taycheedah.
Changes promised under the new plan include more staff and training, changes to medication dispensing rules, better preparation for psychiatric emergencies, improved mental health programs and scrutiny of disciplinary charges for mentally ill inmates.
The agreement also calls for regular progress reports.
The sides agreed to have an independent consultant, physician Jeffrey Metzner, oversee the agreement.
Receiving full access to Taycheedah inmates and records, Metzner is assigned to file a progress report in four months and then once every six months after that, the agreement said. Metzner will not be allowed to make public statements.
Problems with prisoner health care inside Taycheedah have been documented by the Journal Sentinel for more than eight years.
In 2000, the newspaper reported that dozens of inmates died under questionable circumstances because of a flawed system that kept death reviews secret.
In March 2005, federal authorities opened their investigation into Taycheedahs mental health care and issued a report a year later saying inmates treatment was unacceptable and amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights.
Punishing inmates for mental health symptoms that are beyond their control is unacceptable and ineffectual, investigators wrote.
Its ordered to improve mental health care for women
By JOHN DIEDRICH
jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 6, 2008
Under the threat of a federal lawsuit, Wisconsin officials have promised to make wide-ranging improvements to mental health care for women being held at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, according to an agreement made public Friday.
The agreement between the state and the U.S. Department of Justice is the latest development in a nearly decade-long push for reform of health care inside Taycheedah, where federal investigators found mentally ill prisoners some as young as 15 locked in isolation cells and given psychotropic drugs for months without a doctors oversight.
In a prelude to a federal lawsuit, U.S.
Attorney General Michael Mukasey in January signed a complaint that said Wisconsin has shown deliberate indifference to the mental health needs of women in the prison. That complaint was released Friday.
Federal officials have agreed to hold off on a lawsuit, giving the state four years to implement changes, but action could still be taken if the state doesnt live up to the 34-page agreement.
The Department of Corrections already has made several improvements to care for women inmates, including adding just over 33 positions, planning a new 45-bed care wing and adding programs, said John Dipko, department spokesman.
We have made a lot of progress in care, and there is more progress to be made, he said. Both sides have agreed to try to resolve the matter, allowing more resources to be directed away from litigation and toward improved care.
Alluding to other cases brought by his office, U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic said in a statement that this agreement shows his commitment to protecting rights.
We will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights matters, whether they involve police officers, nightclubs, residential dwellings or prison facilities, the statement said.
An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said the agreement signifies progress, but it isnt specific enough and gives the state too long to make reforms.
This is a move in the right direction, said Larry Dupuis, the groups legal director. On a global scale, our biggest problem is the amount of time given to do this when there are people at risk in an immediate way.
The ACLU has filed a class-action lawsuit seeking to force improvements not only in prisoners mental health care but also in medical and dental care.
In a separate lawsuit, the state last month agreed to pay $635,000 to the family of an 18-year-old woman who in 2005 reportedly pleaded for psychiatric help for days and then committed suicide while in Taycheedah.
Changes promised under the new plan include more staff and training, changes to medication dispensing rules, better preparation for psychiatric emergencies, improved mental health programs and scrutiny of disciplinary charges for mentally ill inmates.
The agreement also calls for regular progress reports.
The sides agreed to have an independent consultant, physician Jeffrey Metzner, oversee the agreement.
Receiving full access to Taycheedah inmates and records, Metzner is assigned to file a progress report in four months and then once every six months after that, the agreement said. Metzner will not be allowed to make public statements.
Problems with prisoner health care inside Taycheedah have been documented by the Journal Sentinel for more than eight years.
In 2000, the newspaper reported that dozens of inmates died under questionable circumstances because of a flawed system that kept death reviews secret.
In March 2005, federal authorities opened their investigation into Taycheedahs mental health care and issued a report a year later saying inmates treatment was unacceptable and amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights.
Punishing inmates for mental health symptoms that are beyond their control is unacceptable and ineffectual, investigators wrote.
If it was anyone else they would be prosecuted and sent away. The reform should be done in a matter of a year. It is plenty enough time. I also think it should be done for both sexes not just one. There are many men whom are going through the same thing. I hope they will be able to shed some light on that subject as well. Thank you for posting the information. I hope and pray it will actually work.
Minor problem but by the time the get to it will he even be able to tell them. Sounding more drugged everyday.
So by golly it is a step towards maybe doing something to help them get the healthcare they need and quicker.
Every step forward needs celebration!
Rhea
Let's not also forget how many men, and women, are driven to the brink of insanity by the inhumane treatment.
Whatever it took to get this done, whoever was contacted, we all have to start doing it again, to all our prisons, in all states. Men and women both deserve to be treated much better than this. As human beings. We must not just sit and discuss it, but get out brains working, write letters, make noise. To save alot of incarcerated people.