Script:

1. Improving Healthcare of
Mentally-ill
at
Attica Correctional Facility
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2.  Mentally-ill inmates entitled to:
› adequate healthcare: routine screening for infection,
treatment (Estelle v. Gamble)
› protection from „cruel and unusual punishment‟ (8th
Amendment)
 Attica violates these rights:
› understaffed, shortage of in-patient psychiatric beds
resulting in rise of mentally ill imprisoned and
complaints of abuse
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4.  No Facility Health Services Director, permanent nurses,
and Spanish-speaking healthcare professional
 Limited in-patient care at CNYPC causes DOC to use the
SHU excessively
› 23 hrs a day, for 2.2 yrs (average)
› 64% locked up = mentally-ill
› lack of treatment
› high suicide rates
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5.  Population of mentally-ill imprisoned rises
› 1960s: 85,000 psych, 15,000 prison beds – stats reversed in
1990s
› Rockefeller Drug Laws
› Lack of support after incarceration = mentally-ill returning
 Lawsuits exposing inadequate healthcare + mistreatment:
› Eng v. Goord („99), Anderson v. Goord („00), and Disability
Advocates, Inc v. NYC Office of Mental Health and
Department of Correctional Facilities („01-‟07)
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6.  1st – Governor Cuomo and NYS Legislature
› Goal: save money
 2nd – Department of Health
› Goal: adequate healthcare for all
 3rd – Department of Corrections
› Goal: protect by institutionalizing criminals
 4th – Central New York Psychiatric Center
› Goal: hospitalize seriously ill needing rehab
 5th – Advocacy Combo: PRP, Disability Advocates, Inc. and
Prisoner‟s Legal Services
› Goal: protect by advocating legal rights
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8.  Stephey, M.J. (2007).“De-Criminalizing Mental Illness”. Retrieved
on October 27, 2011 from:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1651002,00.htm
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 Prison Policy Initiative (2000). “Incarceration is not a Solution to
Mental Illness”. Retrieved on October 27, 2011 from:
http://www.prisonpolicy.org/articles/massdissent040100.html
 Assembly of New York State (2011). “Notice of Public Hearing –
Mental Health Treatment in Prison”. Retrieved on October
27, 2011 from:
http://www. assembly.state.ny.us/comm/Correct/20111031.html
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