ÿWPCw êÀÓa;œqÀœ²:œcÕö’R¡—ÁëÈ”´9Tú(¬‚ØïtÖ¶O…líPµ°œ4‘L›fÈÕ˜ º2”¢5¯¯óYÂ÷odÀe·'Ýq;‚ ýª /Y§Õ°ÎŒY¨{£›¤(ØJv¸ˆìNò;Œé(_E‰ý€¬Pç›æÑ¬¿RG®QíP¢Eò„X›´‰à‡Ç0U”\þZ¿ Ì—[èüõNítL» 8Ý‚Fä+†ôÉ ™éÙ«S#GÇšº ú‚bþú)+ÈÄýœÉ'ÜýP±óÈuCüý“ôÿ½Ë½XéÍ  ÌÎËÝ[RÀWƒŽ„5·+ሪ“Ñ“2š(¦õ©ò8bÁ³ß?ëŸO7ƒ7ü9CF…gØð »ÛÓ4A¢˜" àI` Ó×C"ÖüÀª•{wë€2.i†\½(ó=.^©è« a€vœÃuû[l’pëæ{A·KìàÁ SÛ"à'émFãy&¼ø{ÏRÄÀÏªØ Ü—5’˜øódX%¸ëÃc×gõ ã^%q´Yƒ±lî.çÕ£"{Ž™±êÙ= ' ëé…æ‰ö®YéJL´•±È_ÜòØ*è Péùe½o1'zã¿VÖ¼ÏFi #ɨUNq %¿ 0:ÅU,ÿ^ +w74;O^ m`˜HP PSC 1500 seriesTŽ––––TŽ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô,“í|AZ‹Arial oqÞ4é ºz”2ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X¬ØXXXÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔÓÓÑ8€ñXXdìdÈ8ÑÌ€€€€ð ðDad,€how€would€you€feel€is€someone€you€loved,€killed€himself?ððÐ  < Ѐ€€€My€college€age€son,€Mike,€and€I€were€speeding€down€Interstate€95Ð Ü x Ðriding€from€New€York€City€to€an€emergency€room€in€Fairfax€CountyÐ  ´ ÐVirginia€when€he€asked€me€this€question.€I€had€no€idea€that€our€fourÐ Tð Ðhour€trip€together€and€the€next€seventy€two€hours€were€going€toÐ ,  Ðchange€both€of€our€lives€forever.Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€€€Mike€had€been€diagnosed€a€year€earlier€with€a€mental€illness:òòÐ ¤ Ðbipolar€disorderóó.€There€was€no€none€family€history.€No€warnings€aboutÐ Dà Ðthe€trouble€that€was€ahead.€A€New€York€psychiatrist€had€put€him€onÐ € Ðanti„psychotic€medication.€But€Mike€had€stopped€taking€his€pills.Ð ¼X Ѐ€€€€When€I€picked€him€up€in€New€York,€Mike€hadnððt€slept€in€five€daysÐ ø” Ðand€had€been€walking€aimlessly€throughout€the€city.€He€believed€GodÐ 4!Ð Ðwas€sending€him€secret€messages.€During€our€ride€to€Virginia,€MikeÐ p#  Ðwould€laugh€one€minute€and€begin€sobbing€the€next.Ð ¬%H Ѐ€€€€I€pleaded€with€him€to€take€his€medication€and€silently€prayed:€òòHangÐ è'„! Ðon€son,€the€doctors€will€know€how€to€bring€you€back€to€me.Ð $*À#  Ѐ€€€€óóThe€intake€nurse€rolled€her€eyes€while€Mike€talked€gibberish€aboutÐ `,ü%" Ðhow€God€was€communicating€with€him€ð!ð€and€then€Mike€and€I€wereÐ d Ðtaken€to€a€waiting€room€which€is€exactly€what€we€did€ð!ð€for€the€nextÐ  < Ðfour€hours.€Mike€finally€announced€that€he€was€leaving,€but€I€managedÐ Ü x Ðto€convince€him€to€hang€on€a€few€more€minutes€while€I€flagged€downÐ  ´ Ða€doctor.€Ð Tð Ѐ€€€€€€The€doctor€came€into€the€room€with€his€arms€raised€as€if€he€wereÐ ,  Ðsurrendering€and€announced€that€there€was€nothing€he€could€do€toÐ Ìh  Ðhelp€Mike.€ð ðYou€havenððt€even€examined€him!ðð€I€protested.Ð ¤ Ѐ€€€€€But€it€didnððt€matter,€he€replied.€The€nurse€had€told€him€that€MikeÐ Dà Ðbelieved€€pills€were€poison€and€he€wasnððt€going€to€take€any.Ð € Ѐ€€€€€€ð ðVirginia€law€is€very€specific,ðð€the€doctor€explained.€ð ðUnless€aÐ ¼X Ðpatient€is€an€ð ðimminent€danger€to€himself€or€to€others,ðð€I€cannot€treatÐ ø” Ðhim€ð!ð€unless€he€voluntarily€agrees€to€be€treated.ððÐ 4!Ð Ѐ€€€€€€€Bring€him€back,€the€doctor€said,€ð ðWhen€he€tries€to€kill€himself€orÐ p#  Ðhurts€you.ððÐ ¬%H Ѐ€€€€€€What€happened€next,€no€parent€should€have€to€go€through.€IÐ è'„! Ðwatched€my€son€sink€lower€and€lower€into€a€mental€abyss.€At€oneÐ $*À#  Ðpoint,€he€had€tin€foil€wrapped€around€his€head€to€keep€the€CIA€fromÐ `,ü%" Ðreading€his€thoughts€through€the€TV€set.Ð d Ѐ€€€€€Forty„eight€hours€later,€he€slipped€outside€and€broke€into€aÐ  < Ðstrangerððs€house.€The€homeowners€were€away,€thankfully.€AfterÐ Ü x Ðrummaging€through€the€kitchen,€Mike€went€upstairs€to€take€a€bubbleÐ  ´ Ðbath.€The€police€sent€a€dog€inside.€It€bit€into€Mikeððs€arm€and€draggedÐ Tð Ðhim€down.€Still€it€took€six€officers€to€subdue€him.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€€€€The€police€drove€Mike€to€a€community€mental€health€center€lessÐ Ìh  Ðthan€a€mile€from€the€emergency€room€where€we€had€been€turnedÐ ¤ Ðaway.€A€police€officer€was€waiting€for€me€when€I€arrived.€He€told€meÐ Dà Ðthat€if€I€didnððt€go€inside€and€tell€the€psychiatric€social€worker€that€MikeÐ € Ðhad€threatened€to€kill€me,€she€would€not€admit€him€into€a€hospital.Ð ¼X ÐInstead,€he€would€be€taken€to€jail.Ð ø” Ѐ€€€€€€ð ðBut€he€hasnððt€threatened€to€kill€me,ðð€I€proclaimed.Ð 4!Ð Ѐ€€€€€€The€officer€gave€me€an€exasperated€look.Ð p#  Ѐ€€€€€€I€went€inside€ð!ð€and€I€lied.€I€told€them€that€my€son€had€tried€to€killÐ ¬%H Ðme.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€€Mike€was€taken€to€the€psychiatric€ward€at€a€local€hospital.€48Ð $*À#  Ðhours€later€at€a€required€commitment€hearing,€Mike€thankfully€agreedÐ `,ü%" Ðto€voluntarily€admit€himself.€Otherwise,€he€would€have€beenÐ d Ðdischarged.Ð  < Ѐ€€€€However,€our€problems€were€far€from€over.€His€psychiatrist€calledÐ Ü x Ða€day€later.€Our€insurance€company€was€demanding€that€Mike€be€putÐ  ´ Ðout€of€the€hospital€even€though€his€psychiatrist€did€not€believe€he€wasÐ Tð Ðstable.€I€called€the€insurance€company€but€go€no€where€until€I€violatedÐ ,  Ðmy€journalistic€ethics€and€told€them€that€I€was€a€former€WashingtonÐ Ìh  ÐPost€reporter€and€a€friend€of€Mike€Wallace€of€60€Minutes€fame.Ð ¤ ÐJournalists€are€not€supposed€to€use€their€positions€to€bully€people,€butÐ Dà ÐI€did,€and€Mike€was€allowed€to€stay€in€the€hospital€for€òòfourteenóó€days.Ð € Ѐ€€€€A€young€girl€who€had€attempted€suicide€and€who€had€beenÐ ¼X Ðadmitted€the€same€day€as€Mike€did€not€have€connections€like€mine.Ð ø” ÐShe€was€discharged€and€disappeared.€Her€parents€are€still€looking€forÐ 4!Ð Ðher.Ð p#  Ѐ€€€€€It€was€at€this€point€that€I€received€a€telephone€call€from€the€FairfaxÐ ¬%H ÐCounty€police.€Mike€was€being€charged€with€two€felonies€ð!ð€breakingÐ è'„! Ðand€entering€and€destruction€of€property.€€I€was€frustrated.€The€sameÐ $*À#  Ðlaws€that€had€stopped€me€from€getting€Mike€help,€now€wanted€toÐ `,ü%" Ðpunish€him€for€a€crime€that€he€committed€while€he€was€not€thinkingÐ d Ðclearly.Ð  < ÐÌFrom€my€book,€Page€2Ð  ´ Ðòò€€€€€ð ðI€just€feel€so€damn€helpless,ðð€I€told€my€wife,€Patti,€one€night.€ð ðIÐ Tð Ðwant€to€do€something,€but€I€donððt€know€how€to€help€Mike.ððÐ ,  Ѐ€€€€ð ðThen€do€what€you€do€best,ðð€she€said,€ð ðYouððre€a€journalist.€YouÐ Ìh  Ðmake€your€living€investigating€stories.€So€investigate€this.€Pete€Ô_ÔEarleyÔ_Ô,Ð ¤ Ðthe€journalist,€can€dig€out€information€that€Pete€Ô_ÔEarleyÔ_Ô,€the€father,Ð Dà Ðwould€never€be€able€to€get.€€If€you€want€to€help€Mike,€and€others€likeÐ € Ðhim,€then€write€about€what€he€is€going€through,€and€find€out€why€theÐ ¼X Ðmental€health€system€in€this€country€seems€to€be€in€such€a€mess.ððÐ ø” Ѐ€€€I€decided€to€do€some€preliminary€digging,€and€the€more€I€dug,€theÐ 4!Ð Ðclearer€it€became:€What€was€happening€to€Mike€was€not€an€oddity.€ItÐ p#  Ðwas€a€tiny€piece€in€a€bigger€story.€A€major€shift€had€occurred€in€ourÐ ¬%H Ðcountry.€Persons€with€mental€illnesses,€who€used€to€be€treated€inÐ è'„! Ðstate€mental€hospitals,€were€now€being€arrested.€à  àÐ $*À#  Ѐ€€€In€1955,€some€560,000€Americans€were€patients€in€state€mentalÐ `,ü%" Ðhospitals.€If€you€took€the€patient€per€capita€ratio€in€1955€andÐ d Ðextrapolated€it€out€to€today,€youððd€expect€to€find€930,000€patients€inÐ  < Ðmental€hospitals,€but€there€are€fewer€than€55,000.€Where€are€theÐ Ü x Ðothers?Ð  ´ Ѐ€€€€More€than€300,000€persons€with€mental€illnesses€are€in€jails€andÐ Tð Ðprisons.€Another€half€million€were€on€court€ordered€probation.€700,000Ð ,  Ðgo€through€the€justice€system€each€year.€The€largest€public€mentalÐ Ìh  Ðhealth€facility€in€America€is€not€a€hospital€ð!ð€it€is€the€L.A.€county€jail.ððÐ ¤ ÐJails€and€prisons€have€become€our€new€asylums.Ð Dà Ѐ€€€€Those€statistics€gave€me€an€idea,€but€before€I€pursued€it,€I€wantedÐ € Ðto€talk€to€Mike.Ð ¼X Ѐ€€ð ðIððm€thinking€about€writing€a€book€about€the€Ô_ÔcriminalizationÔ_Ô€of€theÐ ø” Ðmentally€ill,ðð€I€told€him.€I€want€to€write€about€you€and€how€you€got€intoÐ 4!Ð Ðtrouble€with€the€law.ððÐ p#  Ѐ€€€€€Do€you€think€people€will€want€to€read€that?ððÐ ¬%H Ѐ€€€€€I€outlined€my€plan.€I€would€write€about€his€mental€breakdown€andÐ è'„! Ðhow€it€had€led€to€his€being€arrested,€but€Iððd€fold€his€personal€story€intoÐ $*À#  Ða€much€larger€one€ð!ð€an€examination€of€the€mental€health€system€inÐ `,ü%" ÐAmerica€today.€Iððd€find€a€jail€in€a€major€city€far€away€from€where€MikeÐ d Ðhad€been€arrested.€Iððd€spent€time€inside€its€cell€blocks,€observingÐ  < Ðprisoners€with€mental€illnesses.€Iððd€monitor€their€criminal€casesÐ Ü x Ðthrough€the€courts,€follow€them€into€the€community.€Iððd€interviewÐ  ´ Ðcorrectional€officers,€public€defenders,€prosecutors,€judges,€defenseÐ Tð Ðattorneys,€mental€health€care€professionals,€and€the€police.€Iððd€talk€toÐ ,  Ðparents,€siblings,€spouses€and€others€with€mental€illnesses.€Iððd€useÐ Ìh  Ðthe€jail€as€a€microcosm.€It€would€serve€as€my€hub,€much€like€an€oldÐ ¤ Ðwestern€wagon€wheel.€The€inmates€whose€lives€I€would€chronicleÐ Dà Ðwould€be€the€spokes€jutting€out€from€it.Ð € Ѐ€€€ð ðIf€it€helps€someone€else,ðð€Mike€said.€ð ðThen€dad,€tell€my€story.ððóóÐ ¼X Ð****Ð ø” Ѐ€€€€€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñ=#ÔÔ#†XñXî\#ÔÔ‡X¬ØXXXñÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔI€ended€up€in€Miami€on€its€dreaded€ninth€floor€where€the€mostÐ 4!Ð Ðpsychotic€prisoners€are€housed€in€cells€with€glass€fronts.€I€rememberÐ p#  Ðstepping€inside€C€wing€for€the€first€time€and€trying€to€take€in€everyÐ ¬%H Ðsight,€sound,€smell€that€was€before€me.€Ð è'„! ÐFrom€the€book,€page€45Ð $*À#  ÐòòThe€air€in€C€wing€stinks.€It€is€a€putrefied€scent,€a€blending€of€urine,Ð `,ü%" Ðexpectorant,€perspiration,€excrement,€blood,€and€dried€and€discardedÐ d Ðjailhouse€food.€When€the€jailððs€antiquated€air€conditioning€breaksÐ  < Ðdown€during€the€summer,€which€it€often€does,€some€officers€claim€CÐ Ü x Ðwingððs€pink€walls€actually€sweat.€Itððs€decades€of€fifth€and€grimeÐ  ´ Ðbubbling€up,€rising€through€coats€of€paint.Ð Tð Ѐ€€€€I€listened.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€C€wing€is€noisy.€Toilets€flushed.€Prisoners€hacked,€coughed,Ð Ìh  Ðgroaned,€spat,€sang.€Correctional€officers€chattered,€laughed,€yelled.Ð ¤ ÐA€jail€trusty€kicked€a€silver€mop€bucket,€sending€it€sliding€across€theÐ Dà Ðconcrete,€emitting€a€grating€sound.€Leg€chains€click„clacked€againstÐ € Ðthe€hard€surface€as€new€prisoners€were€brought€inside€for€processing.Ð ¼X ÐThese€were€the€traditional€sounds.€Intermingled€with€them€wereÐ ø” Ðstrange€asylum€noises.€A€prisoner€sobbed,€another€babbled€at€anÐ 4!Ð Ðunseen€tormentor.Ð p#  Ѐ€€€Ô_ÔArrrggghhÔ_Ô,€an€inmate€yelled.€Thud,€Thud,€Thud,€then€faster.Ð ¬%H ÐÔ_ÔThud,thud,thudÔ_Ô.€Then€louder:€THUD€Ô_ÔTHUDÔ_Ô€THUD.€He€was€bangingÐ è'„! Ðhis€forehead€against€a€glass€cell€front.Ð $*À#  Ѐ€€€ð ðI€ainððt€crazy!ðð€the€naked€inmate€shouted.Ð `,ü%" Ѐ€€€ð ðThen€stop€acting€like€you€is,ðð€an€officer€called€back.óóÐ d Ð*******Ð  < Ѐ€€€The€officers€who€worked€here€called€this€€ð ðthe€Forgotten€Floorðð€MyÐ Ü x ÐÔ_ÔtourguideÔ_Ô€was€Dr.€Joseph€Ô_ÔPoitierÔ_Ô,€the€chief€psychiatrist€at€the€jail,€aÐ  ´ Ðcompassionate€doctor€with€an€impossible€job€whom€I€quickly€came€toÐ Tð Ðrespect€and€admire.€€Ð ,  Ѐ€€€ð ðA€lot€of€people€think€someone€who€is€mentally€ill€is€going€to€getÐ Ìh  Ðhelp€if€they€are€put€in€jail,ðð€Dr.€Ô_ÔPoitierÔ_Ô€told€me.€ð ðBut€the€truth€is€that€weÐ ¤ Ðdonððt€help€many€people€here€with€their€psychosis.€We€canððt.ðð€Ð Dà Ѐ€€His€first€priority€was€making€sure€no€one€killed€himself.€His€next€taskÐ € Ðwas€trying€to€convince€prisoners€to€take€Ô_ÔantipsychoticÔ_Ô€medication€soÐ ¼X Ðthey€could€become€stable€enough€to€be€put€on€trial.€I€went€with€him€onÐ ø” Ðhis€morning€rounds.€There€were€92€inmates€on€the€ninth€floor.€HisÐ 4!Ð Ðrounds€took€us€19€ðð€minutes.€That€was€an€average€of€12.7€secondsÐ p#  Ðper€inmate.Ð ¬%H Ð*****Ð è'„! Ѐ€€During€the€next€ten€months,€I€shadowed€several€inmates€throughÐ $*À#  Ðthe€Miami€legal€system.€€One€of€the€first€was€Alice€Ann€Ô_ÔCollyerÔ_Ô€whoÐ `,ü%" Ðhad€chronic€schizophrenia€and€has€been€homeless€for€a€decade.€€SheÐ d Ðlived€on€the€streets€in€South€Beach€where€she€had€been€arrested€tenÐ  < Ðtimes€in€four€years.€She€had€received€no€meaningful€treatment€duringÐ Ü x Ðthat€decade,€but€instead€had€been€jailed€and€released€to€a€woodenÐ  ´ Ðcrate€in€an€alley€and€Ô_ÔdumpsterÔ_Ô€she€claimed€for€her€own.€This€time€sheÐ Tð Ðhad€been€arrested€at€a€bus€stop€where€she€had€become€upsetÐ ,  Ðbecause€an€elderly€woman€was€staring€at€her.€ð ðStop€stealing€myÐ Ìh  Ðthoughts!ðð€Alice€Ann€had€screamed.€She€had€shoved€the€olderÐ ¤ Ðwoman,€but€not€hard€enough€to€knock€her€over.€Alice€Ann€had€thenÐ Dà Ðrun€away.€Well€meaning€witnesses€convinced€the€elderly€victim€to€fileÐ € Ðcharges€against€Alice€Ann€ð!ð€thinking€she€would€be€arrested€and€getÐ ¼X Ðhelp.€Instead,€she€was€being€punished.Ð ø” Ѐ€€€€Florida€takes€crimes€against€the€elderly€seriously.€They€areÐ 4!Ð Ðfelonies.€Because€Alice€Ann€had€been€arrested€twice€before€forÐ p#  Ðshoving€elderly€people€at€bus€stops,€she€was€charged€under€FloridaððsÐ ¬%H Ðmandatory€three€strikes€law€with€being€a€habitual€criminal.€She€facedÐ è'„! Ða€mandatory€five€year€prison€sentence.€But€when€Alice€Ann€was€takenÐ $*À#  Ðto€court,€she€was€so€psychotic€that€a€judge€said€she€could€not€be€putÐ `,ü%" Ðon€trial€because€she€didnððt€understand€the€charges€against€her.€SoÐ d Ðshe€had€been€sent€to€a€forensic€hospital€to€be€made€competent€ð!ð€notÐ  < Ðtreated€ð!ð€thereððs€a€difference.€Her€records€showed€that€she€had€beenÐ Ü x Ðsent€back„and„forth€between€the€jail€and€the€hospital€for€more€thanÐ  ´ Ðthree€years€ð"ð€thatððs€right,€1,151€days€ð!ð€and€still€not€be€brought€toÐ Tð Ðtrial.€When€I€mentioned€this€to€prosecutors,€I€was€told€that€the€stateÐ ,  Ðwas€shuttling€her€back€and€forth€intentionally€because€Alice€Ann€wasÐ Ìh  Ðdangerous€and€there€was€no€safe€place€to€release€her€ð!ð€no€hospitals,Ð ¤ Ðno€treatment€facilities,€no€place€ð"ð€so€they€were€keeping€her€on€thatÐ Dà Ðbus€riding€back€and€forth.Ð € Ѐ€€€€Alice€Ann€was€typical€of€the€psychotic€inmates€I€shadowed€inÐ ¼X ÐMiami.€These€were€not€Ô_ÔHannibalÔ_Ô€Lector€murderers€or€deranged€serialÐ ø” Ðkillers.€They€were€men€and€women€who€had€brain€diseases€andÐ 4!Ð Ðbecause€of€that,€they€were€ending€up€in€jail€as€punishment€for€actsÐ p#  Ðthat€they€committed€while€they€were€clearly€ill.Ð ¬%H Ѐ€€€€For€instance:€Ted€Jackson.€He€has€bipolar€disorder€and€evenÐ è'„! Ðthough€he€took€his€medication€religiously€and€wanted€desperately€toÐ $*À#  Ðget€better,€he€still€operated€on€the€margins€of€sanity.€When€I€first€metÐ `,ü%" Ðhim,€his€face€was€badly€bruised€after€an€altercation€with€the€MiamiÐ d ÐBeach€police.€They€had€caught€him€writing€ð ðJesus€2007"€graffiti€inÐ  < ÐSouth€Beach€and€suspected€that€he€had€defaced€several€hundredÐ Ü x Ðbuildings.€Ted€believed€that€God€had€told€him€that€Jesus€wasÐ  ´ Ðreturning€in€2007.€The€second€time€that€Ted€showed€up€in€the€MiamiÐ Tð Ðjail,€he€was€so€badly€beaten€that€Dr.€Ô_ÔPoitierÔ_Ô€sent€him€to€the€hospital.Ð ,  ÐTedððs€arm€had€been€broken.€He€told€me€that€the€Miami€Beach€policeÐ Ìh  Ðhad€taken€him€in€a€room€in€the€South€Beach€station€and€had€brokenÐ ¤ Ðhis€arm€to€ð ðteach€him€a€lessonðð€about€writing€graffiti€ð!ð€because€theyÐ Dà Ðwere€tired€of€arresting€him€and€having€him€released€untreated€a€fewÐ € Ðhours€later.€Ð ¼X Ѐ€€€€I€also€met€April€Hernandez€in€the€jail.€She€was€the€same€age€asÐ ø” Ðmy€son.€She€was€serving€six€months€for€stealing€a€car.€€The€car€hadÐ 4!Ð Ðactually€belonged€to€a€family€friend.€But€Aprilððs€parents€were€soÐ p#  Ðdesperate€to€get€her€off€the€street€that€they€had€conspired€with€theÐ ¬%H Ðfriend€to€get€charges€filed€against€€April€when€she€took€the€vehicleÐ è'„! Ðwithout€permission.€Why€did€they€want€their€own€daughter€arrested?Ð $*À#  ÐBecause€April€had€been€gang€raped€twice€while€she€was€psychoticÐ `,ü%" Ðand€homeless€in€South€Beach.€She€had€been€beaten€three€timesÐ d Ðsavagely.€And€there€was€nothing€her€parents€could€do€to€interveneÐ  < Ðlegally€because€she€was€an€adult.Ð Ü x Ѐ€€€€One€day,€during€one€of€Aprilððs€lucid€moments,€she€told€me€a€story.Ð  ´ ÐShe€was€walking€in€South€Beach€and€saw€a€teenager€spray€paintingÐ Tð Ðgraffiti€on€the€neck€of€another€homeless€person€with€schizophreniaÐ ,  Ðwho€was€asleep.€April€screamed€at€the€thug€and€chased€him€away.€Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€€€€From€my€book.€Page€263Ð ¤ Ѐ€€€€òòð ðPeople€donððt€think€youððre€a€human€being€when€you€sleep€onÐ Dà Ðsidewalks€and€talk€to€yourself.€They€would€see€me€talking€to€myselfÐ € Ðand€just€walk€by.€I€felt€worse€than€an€animal.€I€knew€they€were€makingÐ ¼X Ðfun€of€me.€But€I€couldnððt€control€my€crazy€self.ððÐ ø” Ѐóó€€€€€April€later€told€me€,€in€her€words,€ð ðpeople€like€me€ð!ð€thereððs€jail,Ð 4!Ð Ðthereððs€your€parents,€or€you€die.ððÐ p#  Ѐ€€€€€€One€of€the€most€tragic€prisoners€I€met€was€Freddie€Gilbert.€AÐ ¬%H ÐMiami€study€found€that€in€a€population€of€two€million,€at€any€givenÐ è'„! Ðtime,€there€are€1,700€people€living€in€cars,€public€shelters,€or€on€theÐ $*À#  Ðstreet.€They€are€homeless.€But€nearly€all€of€them€move€rather€quicklyÐ `,ü%" Ðthrough€the€welfare€system€and€find€lodging.€This€is€not€true€for€507Ð d Ðindividuals.€They€are€the€chronic€homeless€and€everyone€of€them,òòÐ  < Ðeveryone€of€themóó,€has€a€mental€illness€and€has€been€arrested.Ð Ü x ÐòòEveryone€of€them.óóÐ  ´ Ѐ€€€€Gilbert€was€one€of€the€507€chronic€mentally€ill€living€on€the€streetsÐ Tð Ðwhen€he€was€picked€up€for€being€a€public€nuisance.€He€was€so€sickÐ ,  Ðwhen€I€first€saw€him€that€he€couldnððt€speak.€He€stood€naked€in€his€cellÐ Ìh  Ðand€grunted€like€an€animal.€The€officers€controlled€him€by€offeringÐ ¤ Ðsandwiches,€as€if€he€were€a€dog€performing€for€treats.€When€IÐ Dà Ðchecked€his€record,€I€discovered€that€Gilbert€had€been€in„and„out€ofÐ € Ðthe€Miami€jail€dozens€of€times€without€ever€getting€any€help€for€hisÐ ¼X Ðbrain€disorder.€This€was€because€he€did€not€commit€any€seriousÐ ø” Ðcrimes.€He€was€always€picked€up€for€such€infractions€as€urinating€inÐ 4!Ð Ðpublic.€He€was€usually€taken€to€jail,€booked,€and€then€released,€onlyÐ p#  Ðto€be€arrested€again.€Like€many€other€chronically€ill€persons€ð!ð€he€wasÐ ¬%H Ðstuck€in€a€revolving€door.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€*****Ð $*À#  ЀÔ#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñ'#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîîÔÔ#†X¬ØXîî÷Ñ®'#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔ€€€€€How€did€we€get€into€this€mess?€From€a€historical€perspective,€weÐ `,ü%" Ðhave€come€full€circle.€€In€colonial€days,€persons€with€mental€illnessesÐ d Ðhad€to€depend€on€their€families.€Otherwise,€they€were€locked€in€jails€orÐ  < Ðð ðwarned€outðð€which€meant€they€were€taken€to€the€county€line€andÐ Ü x Ðwarned€to€keep€walking€and€never€return.Ð  ´ Ѐ€€€€€In€1843,€activist€Dorothea€Ô_ÔDixÔ_Ô€visited€a€Boston€jail€to€teach€a€BibleÐ Tð Ðclass€and€discovered€that€mentally€ill€prisoners€had€no€heat€despiteÐ ,  Ðfreezing€temperatures.€The€jailer€said,€ð ðThe€insane€donððt€need€heat.ððÐ Ìh  ÐÔ_ÔDixÔ_Ô€spent€the€next€two€decades€exposing€how€ð ðlunaticsðð€were€being€Ð ¤ Ðabused€in€jails€and€prisons.€She€pushed€the€concept€of€treatment,€notÐ Dà Ðpunishment€and€was€credited€with€persuading€30€states€to€buildÐ € Ðhospitals€for€treating€the€mentally€ill.Ð ¼X Ѐ€€€€€We€all€know€what€happened€next.€Many€of€these€state€mentalÐ ø” Ðhospitals€became€abusive,€giant€warehouses€where€the€mentally€illÐ 4!Ð Ðwere€locked€away€and€forgotten.€One€writer€in€Oklahoma€comparedÐ p#  Ðthem€to€Nazi€concentration€camps.€Ð ¬%H Ѐ€€€€In€1963,€President€John€Kennedy€called€for€Congress€to€spend€$3Ð è'„! Ðbillion€to€replace€the€nationððs€state€hospital€system€with€a€network€ofÐ $*À#  Ðcommunity€based€mental€health€centers.€The€discovery€of€a€promisingÐ `,ü%" Ðnew€drug,€Ô_ÔThorazineÔ_Ô,€made€it€possible€for€mentally€ill€patients€toÐ d Ðreturn€to€their€hometowns€and€live€outside€locked€wards.Ð  < Ѐ€€€€The€community€treatment€concept€was€and€remains€a€wonderfulÐ Ü x Ðidea.€But€President€Kennedy€was€assassinated,€the€Vietnam€WarÐ  ´ Ðescalated,€Congress€got€ensnared€in€Watergate,€and€the€mentally€ill€ð!ðÐ Tð Ðnever€much€of€a€priority€ð!ð€were€moved€to€a€back€burner.€In€short,€theÐ ,  Ð$3€billion€never€got€spent.Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€€Next€came€Ô_ÔdeinstitutionalizationÔ_Ô€ð!ð€another€idea€sounded€great€butÐ ¤ Ðquickly€turned€into€a€cruel€joke.€Once€again,€the€idea€was€to€emptyÐ Dà Ðthe€dreaded€state€hospitals.€But€states€across€the€nation€closed€theÐ € Ðstate€hospitals€without€providing€any€safety€net€for€the€€thousands€andÐ ¼X Ðthousands€of€sick€patients€who€were€literally€pushed€out€the€frontÐ ø” Ðdoors€onto€the€streets€overnight.Ð 4!Ð Ѐ€€€€I€was€surprised€when€I€investigated€the€history€ofÐ p#  ÐÔ_ÔdeinstitutionalizationÔ_Ô.€Most€people€believe€it€was€carried€out€becauseÐ ¬%H Ðof€€kindness€ð!ð€because€state€legislators€realized€that€these€asylumsÐ è'„! Ðwere€horrible€places€that€needed€to€be€closed.€Remember€One€FlewÐ $*À#  ÐOver€the€Cuckooððs€Nest?Ð `,ü%" Ѐ€€€€€€But€it€was€not€compassion€or€concern€that€led€to€the€wholesaleÐ d Ðdumping€of€patients.€It€was€money.€Ð  < Ѐ€€€€€The€public€was€putting€pressure€on€state€legislators€to€repair€stateÐ Ü x Ðhospitals€and€make€them€decent€places.€Civil€rights€lawyers,Ð  ´ Ðmeanwhile,€were€filing€class€actions€suits€demanding€the€statesÐ Tð Ðimprove€conditions.€The€states€were€being€backed€into€a€corner€andÐ ,  Ðthen€Congress€ð!ð€the€federal€government€ð!ð€gave€them€an€out.Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€€€€€As€soon€as€Congress€€decided€to€start€making€persons€withÐ ¤ Ðmental€illnesses€eligible€for€federal€benefits,€the€state€legislators€votedÐ Dà Ðto€shut€down€the€hospitals€and€rid€themselves€of€persons€with€mentalÐ € Ðdisorders.€Ð ¼X Ѐ€€€€€€If€you€look€at€the€population€tables,€as€I€have,€you€will€see€that€asÐ ø” Ðthe€patient€populations€of€state€hospitals€rapidly€decreased,€the€jailÐ 4!Ð Ðpopulations€began€to€skyrocket.€Without€a€community€safety€net€andÐ p#  Ðwith€no€where€to€go,€former€asylum€patients€simply€slipped€from€stateÐ ¬%H Ðhospitals€onto€the€streets€and€then€into€jail€cells.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€While€Ô_ÔdeinstitutionalizationÔ_Ô€played€a€major€role€in€sending€peopleÐ $*À#  Ðto€prison,€it€was€not€the€only€cause.€€In€the€1980s,€civil€rights€attorneysÐ `,ü%" Ðturned€their€attention€to€persons€with€mental€disorders.€They€stoppedÐ d Ðthe€police€from€arresting€someone€simply€because€they€were€mentallyÐ  < Ðill€and€putting€them€into€a€hospital.€At€the€time,€being€sent€to€anÐ Ü x Ðasylum€was€often€the€equivalent€to€a€life€sentence.€The€civil€rightsÐ  ´ Ðattorneys€also€stopped€hospitals€from€forcing€persons€€to€undergoÐ Tð Ðlobotomies€and€other€so„called€ð ðtreatmentsðð€against€their€will.€€MostÐ ,  Ðof€all,€and€they€discussed€this€openly,€they€targeted€commitment€laws.Ð Ìh  ÐThey€set€out€to€make€it€impossible€for€anyone€ð!ð€regardless€of€howÐ ¤ Ðpsychotic€they€might€be€ð!ð€to€be€forced€into€one€of€these€dreadedÐ Dà Ðasylums.€Their€goal€was€simply.€Make€it€impossible€for€anyone€to€getÐ € Ðthrough€the€front€door.€Meanwhile,€they€went€to€work€making€sureÐ ¼X Ðthere€was€no€backdoor€so€that€everyone€had€a€legal€way€to€get€out.Ð ø” Ѐ€€€€€The€key€language€in€the€commitment€process€became€ð ðimminentÐ 4!Ð Ðdanger.ðð€Having€set€that€standard,€the€attorneys€then€worked€to€makeÐ p#  Ðsure€it€was€narrowly€interpreted.€€One€judge€ruled€that€a€defendantÐ ¬%H Ðwith€a€long€history€of€mental€illness€could€not€be€forcibly€hospitalizedÐ è'„! Ðeven€though€he€was€eating€his€own€feces€and€living€under€a€carÐ $*À#  Ðbecause€neither€of€those€acts€was€life€threatening.Ð `,ü%" Ѐ€€€€€So€it€was€these€three€events€that€led€to€our€jails€and€prisonsÐ d Ðbecoming€our€new€mental€asylums:€1.€the€Ô_ÔdeinstitutionalizationÔ_Ô€andÐ  < Ðclosing€down€of€state€hospitals,€2.€the€tightening€of€commitment€laws,Ð Ü x Ðmaking€it€nearly€impossible€for€anyone€to€be€committed€until€theyÐ  ´ Ðbreak€a€law,€3.€and€the€failure€of€our€government€to€provideÐ Tð Ðmeaningful€community€treatment€services€that€it€promised.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€******Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€€€€How€are€we€responding€to€the€crisis?Ð ¤ Ѐ€€€€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñ]S#ÔÔ#†XñXîŸS#ÔÔ‡X¬ØXXXñÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔ€This€afternoon,€after€I€finish€speaking,€my€friend,€Judge€StevenÐ Dà ÐÔ_ÔLeifmanÔ_Ô€will€describe€to€you€the€changes€that€he€has€brought€aboutÐ € Ðin€Miami.€Miami€voters€have€agreed€to€spent€more€than€$20€million€toÐ ¼X Ðclose€down€the€dreaded€ninth€floor€and€create€an€innovative€forensicÐ ø” Ðdiagnostic€center.€Because€of€Judge€Ô_ÔLeifmanÔ_Ô,€Miami€has€instituted€aÐ 4!Ð Ðmisdemeanor€jail€diversion€program€to€keep€persons€with€mentalÐ p#  Ðdisorders€out€of€jail€and€get€them€into€treatment.€Other€communitiesÐ ¬%H Ðare€experimenting€with€mental€health€courts.€And€42€states€haveÐ è'„! Ðpassed€Assisted€Outpatient€Treatment€laws,€such€as€Ô_ÔKendralÔ_Ôððs€Law€inÐ $*À#  ÐNew€York€that€allows€a€judge€to€order€a€person€with€a€history€ofÐ `,ü%" Ðviolence€and€noncompliance€to€take€their€medication.Ð d Ѐ€€€€All€of€these€ideas€are€designed€to€help€persons€with€mentalÐ  < Ðillnesses€get€help.€But€to€me,€all€of€them€have€a€basic€flaw.€We€shouldÐ Ü x Ðnot€require€a€person€who€has€a€brain€disorder€to€commit€a€crime€inÐ  ´ Ðorder€for€them€to€get€help.€Getting€arrested€should€not€be€the€first€stepÐ Tð Ðto€getting€help.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€€€€We€also€put€our€loved€ones€in€harmððs€way.€No€one€knows€howÐ Ìh  Ðthe€police€will€react€when€they€encounter€a€person€who€is€not€thinkingÐ ¤ Ðclearly.€I€do€not€want€my€son€or€any€other€person€with€a€severe€mentalÐ Dà Ðdisorder€spending€the€rest€of€his€€life€in€prison€because€he€believedÐ € Ðthe€police€had€been€infiltrated€by€aliens€and€had€to€be€shot.€Ð ¼X Ѐ€€€€€€The€civil€rights€activists€have€focused€the€debate€about€jails€andÐ ø” Ðprisons€entirely€on€the€need€for€€better€and€more€communityÐ 4!Ð Ðtreatment.€And€I€absolutely€agree€that€good€community€treatment€€isÐ p#  Ðessential.€But€we€must€not€ignore€the€other€two€reasons€why€our€jailsÐ ¬%H Ðand€prisons€are€filling€up€with€ill€prisoners.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€We€need€to€re„examine€our€overly€stringent€€commitment€laws€soÐ $*À#  Ðwe€can€get€our€loved€ones€help€before€they€break€the€law.€We€alsoÐ `,ü%" Ðneed€to€re„examine€our€current€policy€of€eliminating€psychiatricÐ d Ðhospital€beds,€including€beds€for€longer€term€care.€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñ_o#ÔÔ#†XñXî~o#ÔÔ‡X¬ØXXXñÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔòòóóÐ  < ЀÔ#†X¬ØXîî÷Ñ4z#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔÔ#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñz#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîîԀ€€Please€do€not€misunderstand€what€I€am€saying.€I€am€NOT€callingÐ Ü x Ðfor€a€return€to€the€old€asylum€system.€I€am€NOT€saying€that€we€shouldÐ  ´ Ðreturn€to€the€days€when€a€parent€could€drop€off€a€belligerent€child€atÐ Tð Ðthe€state€hospital€gates€and€speed€away.€Ð ,  Ѐ€€€€€What€I€am€saying€is€that€we€need€to€re„examine€both€because€weÐ Ìh  Ðcan€now€clearly€see€the€impact€of€overly€stringent€commitmentÐ ¤ Ðlaws€and€Ô_ÔdeinstitutionalizationÔ_Ô.€In€many€ways,€we€have€not€reallyÐ Dà Ðimproved€the€lives€of€thousands€of€persons€with€severe€mentalÐ € Ðdisorders.€We€have€simply€added€an€extra€stigma€to€their€alreadyÐ ¼X Ðheavy€load€by€making€them€criminals€and€incarcerating€€them€in€jailsÐ ø” Ðand€prisons.Ð 4!Ð Ѐ€€€€I€love€my€son.€I€want€his€civil€rights€protected.€But€I€also€want€aÐ p#  Ðsystem€in€place€that€takes€into€consideration€that€when€Mike€isÐ ¬%H Ðpsychotic€ð!ð€when€he€has€tin€foil€wrapped€on€his€head€ð!ð€he€is€notÐ è'„! Ðthinking€clearly€and€he€needs€someone€to€step€in€and€help€him.Ð $*À#  Ѐ€€€€We€must€also€address€our€nationððs€lack€of€psychiatric€hospitalÐ `,ü%" Ðbeds€because€by€not€addressing€it,€we€are€doing€persons€with€severeÐ d Ðdisorders€a€horrible€injustice.€How€do€we€help€people€whose€mindsÐ  < Ðhave€been€so€ravaged€that€they€are,€in€psychiatric€terms,Ð Ü x Ðð ðÔ_ÔunrestoreableÔ_Ô.ððÐ  ´ Ѐ€€€Is€it€humane€to€let€a€person€who€has€no€sense€of€reality€roam€theÐ Tð Ðstreets,€eat€out€of€garbage€cans,€and€be€preyed€on€by€teenage€thugsÐ ,  Ðwith€baseball€bats?€Would€you€want€that€for€your€father,€mother,Ð Ìh  Ðsister,€spouse€or€ð!ð€your€son?Ð ¤ Ѐ€€€€€Consider€what€I€saw€when€I€went€into€the€Miami€courthouse€oneÐ Dà Ðday€ð!ð€a€day€that€was€chosen€completely€at€random.Ð € Ѐ€€€€€From€my€book,€page€309.Ð ¼X Ðòò€€€€€€A€judge€was€conducting€a€competency€hearing.€A€fifty„year„oldÐ ø” Ðman€had€been€accused€of€sexual€lewdness€in€public.€But€two€courtÐ 4!Ð Ðappointed€psychiatrist€had€decided€he€was€so€severely€mentally€illÐ p#  Ðthat€he€wasnððt€responsible€for€his€actions.€One€of€them€was€testifyingÐ ¬%H Ðwhen€I€arrived.€ð ðThis€man€is€not€only€mentally€ill,€he€is€mentallyÐ è'„! Ðretarded,ðð€the€doctor€explained.€ð ðIn€my€opinion,€he€will€never€beÐ $*À#  Ðcompetent€to€stand€trail€because€of€his€mental€retardation.ððÐ `,ü%" Ѐ€€€€€ð ðSo€doctor,ðð€the€judge€said,€ð ðwhere€am€I€supposed€to€sendÐ d Ðsomeone€like€this€ð!ð€if€he€canððt€be€put€on€trial.ððÐ  < Ѐ€€€€€Instead€of€answering€directly,€the€psychiatrist€told€the€judge€whereÐ Ü x Ðhe€shouldnððt€send€the€accused.€ð ðBecause€of€his€low€IQ,€he€should€notÐ  ´ Ðbe€kept€in€the€jail,€because€he€will€be€preyed€on€by€other€inmates.Ð Tð ÐYou€will€be€condemning€him€to€a€life€of€victimization€if€you€keep€himÐ ,  Ðthere.ðð€But€he€also€cautioned€the€judge€against€sending€him€to€aÐ Ìh  Ðboarding€home€for€the€retarded.€ð ðIn€that€environment,€he€will€becomeÐ ¤ Ðthe€bully€who€preys€on€those€who€are€weaker€than€him,€because€heÐ Dà Ðhas€criminal€tendencies.ðð€Finally,€he€warned€the€judge€not€to€free€theÐ € Ðprisoner.€ð ðHis€total€lack€of€control€will€cause€him€to€commit€moreÐ ¼X Ðsexual€crimes.€Much€like€a€small€child,€he€needs€constantÐ ø” Ðsupervision,€because€he€doesnððt€understand€what€is€appropriateÐ 4!Ð Ðbehavior€when€it€comes€to€his€own€sexuality....ðð€The€psychiatristÐ p#  Ðpointed€out€that€the€defendant€had€been€arrested€three€dozen€timesÐ ¬%H Ðfor€masturbating€in€public.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€ð ðIf€he€canððt€be€put€on€trial€because€heððs€not€competent,ðð€the€judgeÐ $*À#  Ðsaid.€ð ðAnd€I€canððt€keep€him€in€jail€or€place€him€in€a€home€for€theÐ `,ü%" Ðretarded€or€release€him,€then€where€exactly€is€he€supposed€to€go?ððÐ d Ѐ€€€€€The€doctor€shrugged.€ð ðThere€really€is€no€place€for€this€man€to€liveÐ  < Ðin€our€society.€...ððÐ Ü x Ð****Ð  ´ Ѐ€€€€€€óóListen€to€what€this€psychiatrist€said:€There€really€is€no€place€forÐ Tð Ðthis€man€to€live€in€our€society.€So€what€did€the€judge€do?€He€put€himÐ ,  Ðon€a€bus€and€sent€him€to€be€made€competent€even€though€that€wasÐ Ìh  Ðimpossible.€He€knew€that€when€the€prisoner€came€back€in€six€monthsÐ ¤ Ðthat€he€would€be€some€other€judgeððs€problem.Ð Dà Ѐ€€€€€€Persons€with€mental€disorders€have€different€needs€as€individualÐ € Ðas€they€are.€And€they€require€a€full€range€of€services€ð!ð€fromÐ ¼X Ðneighborhood€drop€in€centers€to€psychiatric€hospitals€that€can,€inÐ ø” Ðsome€instances,€provide€longer€term€care.Ð 4!Ð Ð*****Ð p#  Ѐ€€€€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷ÑÔz#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîîÔÔ#†X¬ØXîî÷Ñ’z#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔWhile€many€of€my€trips€to€Miami€were€understandably€depressing,€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷ÑX#ÔÔ#†XñXîš#ÔԇîXXñÔÔ‡î÷ÑîîԀР¬%H ЀI€did€find€everyday€heroes€working€to€reform€our€system.€Iððve€alreadyÐ è'„! Ðmentioned€Dr.€Ô_ÔPoitierÔ_Ô€and€Judge€Ô_ÔLeifmanÔ_Ô.€Iððd€like€to€mention€two€otherÐ $*À#  Ðadvocates€in€Miami€and,€not€surprisingly,€both€were€active€in€Ô_ÔNAMIÔ_Ô.Ð `,ü%" ÐSome€would€say€that€they€ð ðareðð€Ô_ÔNAMIÔ_Ô.Ð d Ѐ€€€€Rachel€Diaz,€introduced€me€to€her€Ô_ÔNAMIÔ_Ô€support€group.€She€hasÐ  < Ðreached€out€to€the€Ô_ÔlatinoÔ_Ô€community€in€Miami€and€has€relentlesslyÐ Ü x Ðhounded€local,€state,€and€our€national€elected€leaders€with€letters,Ð  ´ Ðpetitions€and€personal€appeals€about€the€need€for€mental€health€careÐ Tð Ðreform€and€scientific€research.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€€Another€important€guide€for€me€through€Miamiððs€mental€healthÐ Ìh  Ðmaze€was€Judy€Robinson.€I€describe€her€in€my€book€as€the€Dr.€Phil€ofÐ ¤ ÐMiamiððs€Ô_ÔNAMIÔ_Ô.€She€has€dedicated€her€life€to€helping€parents€such€asÐ Dà Ðme€deal€with€real€life€issues.€Judy€also€has€worked€to€promote€Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñ^‘#ÔÔ#†XñXî?‘#ÔÔ‡X¬ØXXXñÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔCrisisÐ € ÐIntervention€Training€for€the€police,€known€as€CIT.€€As€you€know,Ð ¼X Ðpolice€receive€training€for€SWAT,€bomb€squads,€and€Hostage€RescueÐ ø” ÐTeams.€But€many€departments€donððt€have€a€clue€how€to€deal€with€theÐ 4!Ð Ðmentally€ill.€While€I€was€in€Miami,€the€Miami€Police€instituted€a€CITÐ p#  Ðprogram€and€I€saw€a€CIT€trained€police€officer€subdue€a€psychoticÐ ¬%H Ðsuspect€who€was€armed€with€two€knives€without€anyone€getting€hurt.Ð è'„! ÐDuring€this€same€time€period,€the€Miami€Dade€County€Police€refusedÐ $*À#  Ðto€run€a€CIT€program€and€its€officers€shot€and€killed€five€mentally€illÐ `,ü%" Ðsuspects.Ð d Ѐ€€€It€was€Judy€who€introduced€me€to€Renee€Sherman€whose€son,Ð  < ÐRobbie,€threw€a€roller€blade€through€a€window€in€a€house€during€aÐ Ü x Ðpsychotic€breakdown.€When€the€Miami€Dade€County€police€arrived,Ð  ´ ÐRobbie€picked€up€a€shard€of€glass.€He€was€shot€to€death.Ð Tð ÐFrom€my€book,€Page€120Ð ,  Ѐ€€€òòRenee€Sherman€was€crying€by€the€time€she€finished€telling€meÐ Ìh  Ðabout€her€sonððs€death.€ð ðWould€you€like€to€see€Robbieððs€photograph?ððÐ ¤ Ðshe€asked.€She€disappeared€into€a€bedroom€and€then€returned€with€aÐ Dà Ð5€by€7€inch€print.Ð € Ѐ€€ð ðI€was€a€good€mother,ðð€she€said,€her€hands€shaking€and€her€voiceÐ ¼X Ðcracking.€ð ðI€loved€my€son.€Why€did€this€have€to€happen?€Why€did€theyÐ ø” Ðhave€to€shoot€him?€Why€wouldnððt€anyone€listen€to€me€when€I€toldÐ 4!Ð Ðthem€he€was€sick?€....I€loved€Robbie.€Why€did€they€have€to€shootÐ p#  Ðhim?ððÐ ¬%H Ѐ€€Her€husband€put€his€arm€around€her€and€she€buried€her€face€in€hisÐ è'„! Ðshoulder€an€sobbed.€I€looked€at€the€photograph€of€Robbie€in€the€goldÐ $*À#  Ðframe.€The€teenager€smiling€back€at€me€could€have€been€anyoneððsÐ `,ü%" Ðson.€He€could€have€been€my€son,€Mike.ððóóÐ d Ð*****Ð  < ЀÔ#†î¸‘îîî÷Ñë–#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîîÔÔ#†X¬ØXîî÷Ñ —#ÔÔ‡î÷ÑîXX¬ØÔ€€€€€€I€also€found€a€program€in€Miami€that€was€working,€in€fact,€it€wasÐ Ü x Ðdoing€the€seemingly€impossible.€It€was€taking€convicted€felons,€mostlyÐ  ´ Ðmurderers,€who€had€severe€schizophrenia,€and€helping€these€personsÐ Tð Ðsafely€re„enter€the€community.Ð ,  Ѐ€€How€was€this€possible?Ð Ìh  Ѐ€€The€program€was€Passageway€and€at€Passageway,€every€residentÐ ¤ Ðwas€required€to€take€their€medications.€They€performed€jobs€based€onÐ Dà Ðtheir€abilities€for€the€good€of€other€residents,€giving€them€a€sense€ofÐ € Ðself€worth.€They€participated€in€group€therapy€and€they€received€closeÐ ¼X Ðsupervision€and€excellent€case€management.€They€were€providedÐ ø” Ðwith€adequate€housing.€But€most€important€of€all,€they€wereÐ 4!Ð Ðrespected.€They€were€encouraged€to€participate€in€their€ownÐ p#  Ðtreatment€whenever€possible€and€they€were€listened€to€byÐ ¬%H Ðpsychiatrists€who€did€more€than€simply€write€prescriptions.€TheÐ è'„! Ðprogramððs€director€told€me€the€secret€of€his€program€and€it€wasÐ $*À#  Ðincredibly€simple.€He€had€created€a€real€asylum€ð!ð€not€a€giantÐ `,ü%" Ðwarehouse€where€people€were€locked€up€and€forgotten€ð!ð€but€aÐ d Ðcommunity€where€people€genuinely€cared€about€one€another.€€TheÐ  < Ðresidents€of€Passageway€became€a€family€or€in€the€directorððs€words,€aÐ Ü x Ðparish,€where€even€the€most€disturbed€was€helped€and€accepted.Ð  ´ Ѐ€€€€It€was€at€Passageway€where€I€saw€what€could€happen€in€Miami€ifÐ Tð Ðthe€mentally€ill€were€not€put€in€jail,€but€got€meaningful€treatment,€goodÐ ,  Ðcase€management,€housing,€jobs€and€received€help€tailored€to€theirÐ Ìh  Ðindividual€needs.€They€also€were€listened€to€by€their€doctors€and€theirÐ ¤ Ðpeers.Ð Dà Ð****€Ð € Ѐ€€€€€Because€my€son€is€sick,€I€suffer.€But€the€victims€of€these€horribleÐ ¼X Ðdisorders€are€the€people€who€have€them.€Most€of€us€can€ððt€fathomÐ ø” Ðwhat€it€is€like€to€have€a€brain€disorder.€Listen€to€what€Carl,€a€resident,Ð 4!Ð Ðtold€me€one€afternoon.Ð p#  ÐFrom€the€book,€Page€332Ð ¬%H Ðòò€€€€€I€was€walking€down€this€sidewalk,€when€I€was€homeless€and€reallyÐ è'„! Ðcrazy,€and€I€saw€a€big€black€vertical€line€directly€in€front€of€me.€It€wasÐ $*À#  Ðone€of€them€saw€blades€like€they€use€to€cut€them€big€logs€and€it€wasÐ `,ü%" Ðaimed€directly€at€me.€I€tried€to€get€out€of€the€way,€but€my€feet€wouldnððtÐ d Ðmove,€so€I€couldnððt€do€anything€but€take€it.Ð  < Ѐ€€€€He€paused€to€collect€his€thoughts€and€then€said,€ð ðIt€cut€me€right€inÐ Ü x Ðhalf.€I€could€feel€it€cut€through€my€skin€and€my€bones€and€my€heartÐ  ´ Ðand€my€lungs.€It€cut€my€head€plum€in€half.ððÐ Tð Ѐ€€€€I€started€to€grin,€but€Henry€and€Albert€remained€stone€faced.Ð ,  Ѐ€€€€€ð ðNow,€I€know€I€am€sitting€here€today€all€in€one€piece,€but€Iððm€tellingÐ Ìh  Ðyou€I€know€what€it€feels€like€to€be€chopped€in€half,€because€in€myÐ ¤ Ðcrazy€head€that€was€exactly€what€happened.€It€was€no€different€than€ifÐ Dà Ðyouððd€grabbed€a€knife€and€stabbed€me€with€it€right€now.€Iððd€feel€theÐ € Ðpain€just€like€I€felt€then€because€my€mind€told€me€it€was€happening.Ð ¼X ÐNow€this€sounds€funny€now,€but€in€my€head€it€was€just€as€real€as€theÐ ø” Ðfour€of€us€sitting€here.€ððóóÐ 4!Ð Ð*****Ð p#  Ѐ€€€€U.S.€Supreme€Court€Justice€Anthony€M.€Kennedy€recognized€thisÐ ¬%H Ðwhen€he€wrote:€Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€€òòIt€must€be€remembered€that€for€the€person€with€severe€mentalÐ $*À#  Ðillness€who€has€no€treatment,€the€most€dreaded€of€confinements€canÐ `,ü%" Ðbe€the€imprisonment€inflicted€by€his€own€mind,€which€shuts€reality€outÐ d Ðand€subjects€him€to€the€torment€of€voices€and€images€beyond€ourÐ  < Ðpower€to€describe.ððÐ Ü x Ðóó******Ð  ´ Ѐ€€€€€€On€Wednesday,€I€testified€before€the€U.S.€House€ofÐ Tð ÐRepresentatives€subcommittee€on€health.€A€four€member€panel€ofÐ ,  Ðexperts€from€the€National€Institute€of€Mental€Health€and€from€the€JohnÐ Ìh  ÐHopkins€School€of€Medicine€testified€before€me.€All€of€them€said€thatÐ ¤ Ðour€nationððs€best€science€now€shows€ð!ð€without€any€doubt€ð!ð€thatÐ Dà Ðmental€illnesses€€are€brain€disorders€that€are€biological€based.€TheyÐ € Ðare€not€the€fault€of€the€person€who€has€the€disorder.€And€people€whoÐ ¼X Ðhave€mental€disorders€should€not€be€blamed€or€stigmatized€ð!ð€Ð ø” Ðanymore€than€someone€who€has€cancer.€Ð 4!Ð Ѐ€€€€They€also€added,€and€I€quote,€ð ðthese€diseases€are€veryÐ p#  Ðdiagnosable,€and€very€treatable.ðð€These€experts€claimed€that€we€areÐ ¬%H Ðon€the€threshold€of€making€a€number€of€scientific€€breakthroughs.Ð è'„! Ѐ€€€€€ð ðTwenty€years€ago,€a€diagnosis€of€cancer€was€a€death€sentence.Ð $*À#  ÐThat€is€no€true€today.€And€our€treatment€of€brain€disorders€today€isÐ `,ü%" Ðwhere€cancer€research€was€twenty€years€ago.€There€is€reason€toÐ d Ðhave€hope,ðð€one€panel€member€told€me.Ð  < Ѐ€€€€I€am€not€a€Ô_ÔneurobiologistÔ_Ô€or€a€Ô_ÔpsychopharmacologistÔ_Ô€or€a€scientist.Ð Ü x ÐI€am€a€father.€I€cannot€find€a€medical€cure€for€bipolar€disorder€orÐ  ´ Ðsevere€depression€or€schizophrenia.€But€what€I€can€do€as€a€father€isÐ Tð Ðbecome€an€advocate.€I€can€educate€myself.€I€can€speak€out€againstÐ ,  Ðstigma.€I€can€contact€politicians€and€I€can€demand€sensible€reformsÐ Ìh  Ðso€that€no€one€ð!ð€regardless€of€whether€or€not€€he€is€my€son€or€yourððs€ð!ðÐ ¤ Ðis€ever€turned€away€again€by€an€emergency€room€doctor€who€says,Ð Dà Ðð ðBring€him€back€after€he€tries€to€kill€himself€or€kill€you.ððÐ € Ѐ€€€€€€Thank€you€for€being€here€this€afternoon€and€thank€you€forÐ ¼X Ðadvocacy€in€Ô_ÔNAMIÔ_Ô.Ô#†î¸‘îîî÷ÑÛŸ#ÔÔ#†XñXî #Ôòòóó