tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post3759824768883664863..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Assessing local impacts of proposed mental health budget cutsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45233736257983177492011-04-15T13:56:07.478-05:002011-04-15T13:56:07.478-05:00Annoy 1:06 Rick is that you? Glad to see you toned...Annoy 1:06 Rick is that you? Glad to see you toned that idea down to a tranquilizer dart. Still have to do something with them when they wake up though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44305347800286731872011-04-15T09:04:01.222-05:002011-04-15T09:04:01.222-05:00"County jails are already the biggest mental ..."County jails are already the biggest mental hospitals," Hamilton said. "It's sad that we've criminalized mental health, but we have no other place to take individuals in crisis."<br /><br />Elna Christopher , a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of Counties, said the state's budget cuts will simply mean the costs will be passed on to the county level. On average, it costs $12 a day to house someone at a community facility where the person receives mental health treatment, Christopher said, but it costs $137 a day to jail the person. <br /><br />Well Folks here we go again The great state of Texas will again defy all logic and reason by making a really bad decision. This is the "Screw it it gets it off of My desk" decision that seems to be the popular option whenever we have hard choices for our duly elected representatives to face. It seems all they do is look to the whip of whatever their party is and follow the party line, cant go wrong that way. While we the sheep, the cattle, the great herded masses, wonder how this keeps happening. I for one think we should fire them all, all parties, all counties, and vote in a new batch, if they cant do what they are asked fire them and vote in some more. Criminalize lobbying and force these folks to use their own cognitive powers to make decisions. That is a pretty scary thing to say but, Hey, could it be any worse?????????The Homeless Cowboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004267716709384953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-7344130984537761492011-04-15T07:35:11.883-05:002011-04-15T07:35:11.883-05:00An old problem that's getting older and worse ...An old problem that's getting older and worse each passing year for us in law enforcement who have known for years that jail is not the proper environment for those with mental issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-32207215210878342992011-04-14T13:06:08.421-05:002011-04-14T13:06:08.421-05:00The last time I checked it wasn't against the ...The last time I checked it wasn't against the law to be crazy, it is just sad.<br /><br />The only way I see a way out of this is for the State to promote something like CRAZY HUNTS IN TEXAS...<br /><br />You could charge people to come to our state and "hunt" the crazy people with a tranquilizer gun...<br /><br />Maybe even safari style in the more rural areas.<br /><br />The state would make a fortune off of licenses, fees, etc., and the crazy people would be getting cared for by getting thier injection of whatever they were needing at the time..<br /><br />Or I guess we could just start dropping them off at someone's home that we don't like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-43625106804199516322011-04-14T12:53:25.520-05:002011-04-14T12:53:25.520-05:00You're right, Prison Doc. Sick people need ho...You're right, Prison Doc. Sick people need hospitals and medical care, not jail. Jails and prisons have an entirely different job to do. To think the two can be combined is utter stupidity.Sandynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64996321731561099912011-04-14T11:46:25.529-05:002011-04-14T11:46:25.529-05:00I'm no fan of MHMR--by and large I think they ...I'm no fan of MHMR--by and large I think they do a poor-to-bad job. But at least they are TRYING to treat people for mental issues, which we at the jails are not set up or inclined to do. I would prefer to have them oversedated by MHMR than hollering and acting the fool all over the jail.Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68199683334885741652011-04-14T11:29:34.294-05:002011-04-14T11:29:34.294-05:00My experience tells me county jails already PROMOT...My experience tells me county jails already PROMOTE mental illness and further encouragement will only lead to nightmares we cannot imagine.<br /><br />My hostile neighbor filed false charges against my landlord; said he beat the neighbor's wife (didn't happen). The landlord was jailed and allowed to bring along his prescription medications. He's suffered a series of 15 strokes during the last three years. He's a business owner, civic leader, responsible father, and gentle man, not a troublemaker in any way. I've known him for more than 40 years.<br /><br />The stress of the situation induced another stroke while he was in county jail. The jailer refused to give him his prescription medications (to prevent/minimize the effects of stroke), refused to summon a physician, wouldn't even let him have blood-thinning aspirin, and lied to his family all through the night about his medical status. Instead, he was given anti-anxiety medications that wreak havoc with the prescription meds he's been taking for years. In essence, they fed him medications intended for mental illness while totally ignoring his very real physical condition. <br /><br />That's just the tip of the iceberg of injustices and civil rights violations he suffered during his incarceration but it's enough to assure me my county jail is no place for anyone, mentally ill or not. This legislature will only make matters worse for everyone.Sandynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90310485838758235332011-04-14T10:15:29.871-05:002011-04-14T10:15:29.871-05:00I saw this in Dallas County. Single cells holding...I saw this in Dallas County. Single cells holding Alzheimers and Dementia patients, throwing theirseves up against the walls and wailing. The county jail is no place for these people...and the guards are clearly not qualified to handle or help these people. Its a nightmare.Audreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04316183416545492160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69973082560207753052011-04-14T09:58:07.480-05:002011-04-14T09:58:07.480-05:00Every time the Lege slashes mental health budgets,...Every time the Lege slashes mental health budgets, local MHMRs end up with more and more restrictions that prevent people from receiving much needed care. And the disparity among the different MHMR departments across the state is baffling. Some provide a very minimal level of service and others go all out for their clients. This will not turn out good for anyone.A Texas POnoreply@blogger.com