I Support Criminal Diversion

© 2006 Mark Robert Gates

I support criminal diversion, for any persons discovered suffering with a mental illness, in our justice system. Removing mentally ill persons, from, unjustly occupying our prison system, is a necessary step in social progress, however, all laws, involved must clearly state, only behavioral issues can be diverted, however, if intent to commit a crime is found to exist, then prosecute. For some, suffering with a mental illness, correctly handling a stressful situation can be difficult, and there can be times where a person, finds oneself, in a stressful situtation, and merely freaks out, emotionally, and without violence, then handles oneself, inappropriately. Also, persons suffering with a mental illness, who are found to be, in our criminal justice system, and jails or prisons, need to have options counseling, as a part of being sentenced or released. Reducing, mental illness social stigma, requires educating all persons, about the possibilities of getting help, and making all people, aware of all possible, positive outcomes.

The light at the end of the tunnel, in mental health treatment, frequently is beyond many bends and turns, and not visible without proper counsel. It will help to explain to all persons, diagnosed with mental illness, their life is not ending, and hope is yet, their’s, for achieving all dreams. Social, community, education and vocational rehabilitation are necessary to restore a person's dignity. Helping a person, to voluntarily move down a road toward recovery and wellness, means society will have to welcome those successfully treated, into our community. There needs to be a no person left behind clause, for disabilites, in America, for us to be a society of loving, caring, kind, understanding and compassionate individuals.

So, let us cut to the chase, our only real thorny issue is, how much is best practices mental health care going to cost. No one hospitilized for mental illness treatment is ever going to be able to afford to pay for their own treatment, also, it is extremely unlikley anyone being removed from our justice system, or otherwise entering mental healthcare treatment, will ever succeed in finding any full time employment, and be capable of paying for their own treatment and medications. We will see people suffering from mental illness, as an albatross, unless, we see throwing people to the dogs, as cruel and inhuman. So, legislating criminal diversion, and directing offenders, and all others suffering with mental illness, to psychiatric care, is a necessary social step forward, however, if not properly treated, brain disorders will not improve. Good psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychosocial rehabiltators, therapists and counselors are expensive. Currently Medicaid and Medicare do not reimburse at a rate a professional earns in private practice, causing many professionals to stay, however, if American and Indiana citizens, can trust our Congress' to decide their own rate of pay, then we can, also, trust mental health care professionals, to do the same. We know what treatments work, however, are we willing to pay, for the results we want to see. – Mark Robert Gates