How does one get the mental help processes going...my son is in salina county jail in kansas....he is under suicide watch and wont keep his clothes on....they have in an all glass cage for the world to see....he is pounding his fist on the cement...this information comes to me from his girlfriend who is also incarcerated there....she says the guards think he's doing this so he can get out of his trouble....I've called his attorney 3 times requesting an urgent response....he has a long list of mental health issues that go all the way back to 4th grade....also i told the attorney's office that he can even call me collect and still no response....I did talk to my son on the 9th and he was teary but sounded like he had some spirit in him

Hello, samiam....

I'm not sure how the system works in a county jail, but in a state facility (such as El Dorado, or Lansing) there are many people you can contact when you fear for a loved ones' safety, mental health, etc.

My suggestion would be for you to call the jail directly, and ask to speak to someone in charge about your son. Don't be afraid to ask questions, or let them know that you will be looking to outside state agencies for assistance in the matter. It has been my experience that once the jail/prison staff know you are "watching out" for someone inside, the incidences of neglect and or abuse of power are lessened.

Here is the address and number for the Kansas Dept. of Corrections:

KDOC
900 SW Jackson - 4th Floor
Landon State Office Building
Topeka, KS 66612-1284
(785) 296-3317

(toll-free Kansas & Missouri)
(888) 317-8204

This office oversees all correctional facilities within the state of Kansas, including county jails.

I hope this helps...let me know if you need any more info.

Susan in Providence

irisheyes
I called the number that you gave me and they are state helpers....kansas evidently has thier own way of running things...the sheriff is resposible for the policies of salina county jail....i am now waiting for a call from them....but boy oh boy....cops resposible for the whole jail system doesn't seem right....what if they get angry.....my poor son....how can no one be responsible for helping....man...if i lived there...

I'm not sure how things work in Kansas, but here in California, when I worked on the county psych unit, I learned that there were a couple of ways to get someone treatment in the county jail. Maybe it will work there.

If he has a history of treatment, have the treating person call the jail and ask for the medical unit and express concerns as a professional.

If that is not an option, call the inpatient psychiatric unit for your county (the place they send people when they are 5150'd)---look in the phone book under behavioral health or any cop can give you the number/location. Talk to the charge nurse there and tell her your concerns. She can tell you how to get it done, or maybe even call the medical unit herself and get him seen and treated. I've done that more than once for frightened family members of clients in jail who needed treatment and weren't getting it.

Also, here, the (elected) County Sheriff is responsible for the jail and maybe if you contact him and tell him, he will get it taken care of...elections are coming up. And certainly they don't want a lawsuit! That's bad publicity.

Also, can you can call and leave a message for the judge and tell him the public pretender isn't calling back and you are afraid for your son's life and need a psych eval now and it appears to be an emergent situation and no one will listen? He could order that they transfer him to the locked psych unit for eval and treatment. (That is really the best option, but hard to get done.) He will at least order a psych eval in the jail and get him some meds.

Psych problems in the jail suck, big time. I'm sorry.

Lert me know how it goes, will you? Good luck!

thanks crst...alread called sheriff ....didn't return my call....called judge...said ethically they could not approach the lawyer ....lawyer had to approach them...sounds like the buck is being passed.....next step the kansas city news....wish me luck....i live in florida...so this is all long distance for me to handle...

damn that really sucks!! sorry to hear about this current problem. :(

has he been on any meds in the past? if so could he be put on them while incarcerated? im assuming the mental health situation in prison or jail probably isnt the best. but maybe meds would help him?

good luck!! :)

So I'm posting hoping for an update on this situation...did you get anywhere using the news? Has the attorney called you back? did you try contacting the local crisis unit and describing the situation for them?????
Let us know,will you?
It's been on my mind...

ok here's what is happening....the lawyer was finally "in"...we had a long discussion....he needed his presentencing papers form the last incarceration or mental health notes....evidently the jail could have ordered an evaluation...but it is left up to their discretion(no professional psychiatist just cops)to decide if they really need help....his girlfriend is also in the same jail...they(the cops) think that chris is just posturing to get in closer proxcimity to gf.....but just cause he's posturing doesn't mean he's not a kook! so anyway the package is in the mail and lawyer says he will get an evaluation but even if the psych...says he needs meds..still the jail can say no...UNLESS...i offer to pay for the meds...
I am so stressed right now....finacially we can afford this but i told hubby last night that i got prisoncall.com...so we could save on our phone...and he was like ...do we have to pay for this kid for the rest of our life....I have asked him to respect the way I feel just as I respect his...but ...still...he gets mad...so I'm off for a part time job...so I can pay for these things without his "permission"...When i ask him what do I do he just shakes his head...I know if our little princess was in trouble he would not turn his back on her...again my resentment is flaring up but oh well ....he'll get over it ...It would cost him alot more to divorce me...hummmmm....maybe i would get alot more if he divorced me.... thanks for everyones help....Its nice to have a place where people understand and don't judge

Thanks for the update. Good job, getting someone to listen.

Hopefully all of this will happen soon! The longer someone is psychotic, the longer it takes to get them cleared up, darn it!
This just makes me crazy. I'm so sorry. I can tell you that if I were working in that jail this would not be happening!!!
#$@#!!!!!

Gosh I'm sorry you are going through this....and I am so sorry that your husband is not supportive. Sometimes dad's have a hard time when their son's have mental health issues...it's a pride thing I think. They never seem to react that way if it is their little girl that is having the same problem. Seen it a million times. So sad. But, I guarantee you that under all that grumbling, there's a dad in pain.

Just hang in there and continue to fight for the help you know your son needs. We're here to support you.