Mentally Ill Inmates Released Without Medication
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Scott Weinberger
Source: wnbc.com
Date: 12/7/2000
The Urban Justice Center (UJC), which represents mentally ill inmates released from New York’s Riker Island in an on ongoing class action lawsuit against New York City, was featured on WNBC Channel 4 News on December 6. The story highlighted the City’s practice of releasing mentally ill inmates without any medication and without any plan for their treatment. Prisoners released from the facility are provided only $1.50 in cash and a $3.00 subway card. One prisoner said, "I asked for [medication] while I was leaving and they said, ‘Do you want your medication or do you want to go home?’" The story featured an interview with UJC attorney Heather Barr, who said, "People talk about a revolving door, and I’ve met people that have been to Rikers Island more than a 100 times." She adds, "Which obviously costs a fortune. And they never had mental health services when they got out of jail." Scott Weinberger, Mentally ill inmates released without medication, wnbc.com, Dec. 7, 2000, http://www.wnbc.com