WE WELCOME the recommendation from a government-led task force that mentally ill persons should not be sent to prison but be given psychiatric treatment. The recommendation is given force by at least two cases where such persons were declared 'unfit to plead' and ultimately got lost in the prison system.
The two most publicised cases in recent times were Ivan Nettleford, who was released in March 2001 after spending 29 years in prison for breaking a bank window; and Errol Campbell, who was freed after 24 years; he had been charged with a more serious offence, shooting with intent at a policeman.
Those two were fortunate to have been found in the prison system. According to the Department of Correctional Services, up to August 2001 there were 317 mentally ill persons in the island's prisons. The Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights says there are much more some 500 most of them imprisoned for petty offences.
Our concern is that even while the task force can make an appropriate recommendation there is no indication that the logical sequel will be pursued; for there are hundreds of the mentally ill still imprisoned. Having been declared 'unfit to plead' there must be existing records indicating who and where they have been locked away.
If the Department of Correctional Services can give a precise figure of their number, then the relevant functionaries must identify them and do the humane thing: arrange for their immediate release and appropriate psychiatric treatment.
It is incomprehensible that so many persons have been locked away without relatives on the outside raising questions about their whereabouts. It may well be the case that such unfortunate persons came from dysfunctional families in which strong ties of love and care no longer exist.
Even so, if they have relatives who can be located, an attempt should be made to do so and involve them in the subsequent treatment and care.
Government agencies, however, should not be party to such neglect, which is abhorrent to any notion of concern for human rights.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
