mental illness – mamasmunchkin

Sometimes I use my posts to shed light on subjects that may not be considered relevant to disability as an issue but, could use some exposure in some way. This week, I wanted to shed some light on law enforcement and their treatment of people with disabilities. I know there’s a large push to increase disability sensitivity among law enforcement but this post is going to talk about something that’s reaching into a totally new dimension.

The issue I’m thinking about is totally different. It involves the split-second decisions a law enforcement officer had to make at a group home in Georgia that injured one of its residents. This is clearly a case of entering uncharted waters as it relates to law enforcement and their interactions with people who have a disability. I’m not sure if, or how law enforcement can act less aggressively when their primary job is to ensure the safety of the general public. In emergency situations faced by law enforcement on a regular basis and, as in this situation, I’m not sure how the ADA fits in.

Somehow, some people feel if there’s a suspect in a crime who has a disability, and that person’s disability isn’t considered in crisis or emergency situations, that’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an attempt to “level the playing field” for those with disabilities on a daily basis. Once the situation has been deescalated, steps should be taken in accordance with the ADA to ensure things like effective communication, if the person has a hearing impairment, and access to the courthouse, if the person a mobility impairment, for example, are observed. These are just a few ways of how the ADA was meant to be utilized as it’s currently written. Quite honestly, I’m not sure if law enforcement has time to consider the ADA when you’re talking about life and death.

I’ll be interested to see what the Supreme Court decides. Maybe, instead of using part of the ADA to regulate this sort of situation, a new law should be drawn up in an effort to have a clearer framework available. I’m not saying the situation should be ignored, because it does need attention. It might just be that another avenue needs to be explored to have more effective action plan put in place.

Thanks for reading..

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For more information on this story check out the link below:
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-21/supreme-court-considers-impact-disability-law-police-mentally-ill#.VQ4SleFGSSo

Mental illness seems to be a taboo subject no one wants to think about, much less talk about. Despite that fact, it’s a disability that if left untreated has devastating effects, not only on the person living with this illness, but also those around them.

The Criminal Justice System seems to be the place that most often ends up taking the responsibility of trying to help some of these individuals once they end up in jail. The Central Receiving Center in Orange County, Florida tries to help offenders by referring them to other resources that can best assist them in their situation. Because of the efforts put forth by the Central Receiving Center, incidences of re-offending can, and have been reduced. As a result, the problem of jail overcrowding, which is faced by most facilities within the Criminal Justice System is alleviated to a certain degree.

Sadly, as with other Social Services programs, when the economy hits a downturn, they’re the first to suffer. Lack of funding available to this program will lead to unnecessary overcrowding and these offenders won’t receive the help they actually need.

Hopefully Representatives can find a way to include funding in the State budget for this and other programs like it. Not only does this program benefit the offender by getting them the help they need, but also keeps the community safe as a whole. That’s certainly amounts to a win-win for all.

To find out more go to:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-mental-health-care-florida-032314-20140321,0,3544368.story

Thanks for reading

Tag: mental illness

Law Enforcement’s New Disability Consideration..