Michigan prisons = mental institutions? Are you crazy?

“Lock him up and throw away the key!” 

You’ll be hearing talk like that, once again, as Bradford Gille gets processed through the justice system. Gille is the man who stabbed 11 people at a Walmart in Traverse City on July 26. His family had been unsuccessfully trying to get help for this mentally challenged man for years. Now he faces 11 charges of assault with intent to murder, as well as one terrorism charge. 

Even though Gille is obviously struggling with severe mental illness and needs appropriate psychiatric care and hospitalization, there is always the possibility that public clamor and aggressive criminal justice officials might determine that he’s well enough to be tried. 

Sadly, it’s really the State of Michigan that is to blame, and who’s going to punish the state? 

Since 1965, we closed 36 hospitals and centers serving adults with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and emotionally disturbed children. Between 1987 and 2003 alone, Michigan closed three-quarters of its 16 state psychiatric facilities, leaving just 5 still functioning! 

It goes back to the 1960s when we started hearing the word “deinstitutionalization.” Faced with the high cost of operating these institutions some of our state leaders felt that many of these patients could be better served in less restrictive settings. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. Many wound up homeless…many wound up in prison. 

Now, mental illness is a significant problem in our prisons. 

One study found that nearly one in four state prison inmates had some form of mental illness. Another study found that more than 20% of male inmates and 24% of female inmates had symptoms of severe mental disability. Many HFP clients insist the number is much higher. There are legitimate concerns about the quality and availability of mental health services behind bars. And, when mentally challenged prisoners do not receive necessary treatment they sometimes misbehave. That can lead to consequences like solitary confinement, which is proven to cause even more problems. 

Before I wrap this up, consider these shameful numbers from the Treatment Advocacy Center. Michigan’s five state psych hospital beds per 100,000 people are far below the standard. The number of beds per capita ranks Michigan in the bottom 5 in the country! Is it any wonder that we have tragedies like the one in Traverse City?

One could argue that perhaps some state officials should be locked up instead of mental patients. I wonder if there’d be a cry, then, to “throw away the key.” 

And we urge you, brothers,…encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  

1 Thessalonians 5:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

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