Does this SHOCK you? Story about Elmira Reception

equalforall? · #1 03-10-2005, 08:02 PM

My son told me something that almost killed me. Being a mother of a mentally ill child when he said this I just couldn't beleive it!!

Mom when I was walked back to my cell the guard pointed out to a prisoner that was alone...no bed...just a toilet and a small sheet. A guard setting there. Watching him....the guard walking us said "THIS IS WHAT YOU GET IF YOUR GONNA KILL YOURSELF!!!!" "Take a good look"

He said mom we had to walk by him all the time I felt so bad for him...

This was in Elmira Receptions.

Any other story's about Elmira Reception?

Christophers' Mom

missingmyhubie · #2 03-10-2005, 08:40 PM

That is awful. I hate that for the guy and your son.

babygirl350 · #3 03-10-2005, 08:47 PM

Shock me - not really. It does sadden me however. It is called Suicide Watch. The harsh reality of it. I know of one who was on Suicide Watch, who was stripped of all clothing and belted to a gurney of sorts where he couldn't move. He was kept that way for three days until they and he together felt the danger had passed. He told me later that it gave him alot of time to think and he was ready to get back with the living.

woundedangel · #4 03-10-2005, 08:52 PM

awful

equalforall? · #5 03-10-2005, 08:53 PM

Are you saying that It Helps them? I know for the REAL mentally ill This crap is not good .
ANYONE CAN BE FEARED INTO ANYTHING!!! Even the sick. Pain does talk..............

jblovesdb · #6 03-10-2005, 08:56 PM

As babygurl said...this is called suicide watch. It happened to Dave and his brother. They stip them of all their clothes where we are...and leave them in a cell. His brother was actually had restraints to a bed. I think it is awful...and doesn't help in anyway! It is completely embarrassing...and I would think it would just make them feel worse. But this is the way the DOC "thinks" they are helping! It is horrible! Hugs

-Jackie

equalforall? · #7 03-10-2005, 09:04 PM

Man I cannot believe that our society would stoop as low as to aggravate a situation like this. My son COULD become suicidal.

Would I tell them NO F~~~ing way! The embarrassment.... the cold...I am just in total dis belief!!!!

No MEDS>
No Treatment for condition
OH MY GOD!!!

Someone please explain this to me I am lost!!!!

Christophers" Mom

1dayatatime · #8 03-10-2005, 09:14 PM

You know, I believe this happens. But I want to also say I work in a facility with people on suicide watch everyday. Probably 75 % of our patients are on suicide precautions and thats on a good day. They all are dressed, out with the other patients in a day room, eat, sleep and do what the others day and they are safe. You dont have to do these things to people to prevent them for harming themselves.

The DOC is unbelievable. If I wasnt suicidial I would be after being treated the way they treat people.

ONE

equalforall? · #9 03-10-2005, 09:57 PM

You now the unbelievable thing about this. I have Good friends serving inthis crap. THE LAW SAYS?

irisheyes66 · #10 03-10-2005, 10:40 PM

Shocked? Not at all. Here in Kansas, that is known as the "strip cell".

My fiance, who has mental health issues, has been tossed in the strip 8 times in our three years together....once last year for ten days with nothing but a bare mattress on the floor and a pair of boxers to wear....no shower for that entire period, either. There is a huge "observation" window (roughly 10 feet wide, 3 feet high), so anyone walking by gets to look at the inmates lying on the floor....crying, rocking in the corner, screaming for their loved ones...whatever.

The stated purpose of the strip cell is to keep inmates from harming themselves when they are at a "crisis" level. However, it's no secret that the practice has been tainted by abuse and used as a way to settle personal scores between guards and inmates. Not just for my guy, but others as well. It happens every day in the Supermax facility he's in.

What you and I consider barbaric and inhumane is, in the words of a counselor I spoke to recently, "Just another day on the seg run at El Dorado".

1day makes a good point as well....if an inmate is determined to harm himself, he will always find a way. My guy told me about an older gentleman who used to be sent to the strip every so often. The moment the door locked behind him, he would start banging his head against the concrete wall. Eventually, he had to be fully restrained (strapped down) so he didn't kill himself that way. In any other segment of society, that man (and all the other inmates with mental health issues) would get treatment....in prison, they get rewarded with further isolation, and degradation beyond the endurance of man.

Very, very sad.

REB_Brittany · #11 03-11-2005, 01:12 PM

Just curious if prisons uses http://www.pxdirect.com/fullbodyrestraint.htm ? I was searching for something completely different but i stumple onto this item.

Mrs. Vins · #12 03-11-2005, 01:33 PM

I agree with most people; however, there are so many people in the system and not enough resources, maybe they take the extreme because if someone were to hurt themselves, they would have parents and other community members going nuts saying that the jailed KILLED their loved one. We all know that that doesn't go over very well. I don't really have an opinion, just offering another side of the story.

ga scarlet · #13 03-11-2005, 02:06 PM

I am not shocked either. I think it is awful. I have been in the hospital twice inthe last twelve months. Once for suicidal thoughts and the other for an attempt. I can assure you that if I had been cared for like that in the hospital I would not have shown much improvement.

mlle_keiko · #14 03-11-2005, 02:09 PM

the thing is this doens't only happen in prisons, it happens in the hsospital psyh wards all the time...no matter what..people with mental illness don't get treated the same...in prison or outside..i've been to enough psych wards to know...

titantoo · #15 03-11-2005, 02:11 PM

I wish I could say it shocked me. Unfortunately, with respect to our prison and "justice" systems nothing shocks me any more. I don't know how these people go to sleep at night, not to mention hug their family or go to a place of worship. But then they say Hitler loved his dogs!
[Of course, I am not referring to all people in the system....just those that condone brutal, inhumane behaviour!]