Justice System in the USA

I promised I'd post this so folks are a bit more aware.
This was posted by a close friend on another forum.
This story took place in my state. Jackson prison, mentioned in the article, is a place I know. My Grandfather has been singing to the inmates there since before I was born. It is also a prison where my husband spent 2 months and 9 days on his way to his current residence. My husband sits in prison an innocent man. Think about that, then think about the man who died in this article. Think about how many people you could know who may have lived this same nightmare. Think about how few....how amazingly few people ever have any idea that something like this goes on, right here in America, and to innocent men. My husband is innocent, and I believe the man in this article was innocent. Regardless, he did not deserve to pay for any crime with his life.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2448074.shtml

Part of my reason for posting this is to make people aware of the insanity that goes on in prisons, and the horrifying things that prison guards can do. The story is, at best, abbreviated. My husband's stories of what go on in a facility are abbreviated. He won't tell me much, because he knows what the truth would do to me. Hearing this, think about how much more hideous, sick, wrong and illegally prisoners are treated by their "keepers".

The only word that comes to mind is "horrific".

[Patsy Warnick]

I had no idea - mentally ill were still in prison and not hospitilized- I saw this on the news. US justice system has alot of loop holes
Loop holes the two used to kill my nephew.

we should be ashamed

Patsy

I'll hop back in and just make one point if I may. The justice system is mainly (aside from the federal system) for the states and I doubt whether it's broken everywhere, perhaps it's faulty in a few states. Anyway this bit of it needs sorting.

[Patsy Warnick]

Diuretic
Jump in anytime...
You won't know if the system is broken until it affects you.

Patsy

Originally Posted by Patsy Warnick

Diuretic
Jump in anytime...
You won't know if the system is broken until it affects you.

Patsy

That's true Patsy, very true. I have to say having worked in ours for many years I'm realistic about it (I'm not a cynic, just a realist).

[Peg]

I notice this is in the Biker section. Is your friend's husband a biker? What is this "innocent" man accused of doing?

[Marie5656]

I saw this on a segment of 60 Minutes last night. They said there that a big part of the problem is that many psychiatric hospitals are closing in order to "mainstream" the patients, leaving "the system" with no alternative. This is not an excuse, just a statement of what they are up against.
Sad story though...because I am sure this is not only happening to inmates with mental health issues.

A similar thing has happened here Marie. We borrowed the theory of 'de-instututionalisation' from the US, I believe it was instituted during the Reagan Administration in the 80s. Unfortunately our govts didn't increase the amount of money available for care in the community, instead trying to save money by closing certain institutions. We're copping it now. Police here are continually dealing with people who have serious mental afflictions and who are without proper care.

[Marie5656]

And then they have the nerve to wonder why there are so many mentally ill people among the homeless.