Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
venting about my legal system...
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="eekysign" data-source="post: 230096" data-attributes="member: 6479"><p>I don't think anyone's afraid of the "real criminals". But the legal system in the US is absolutely unable to handle mentally ill defendants. There just isn't a system in place, in most states, to really address the issues such people present to a court. Definitely something that needs to be DEALT WITH ALREADY....but don't shoot the messenger by blaming the police, judges, and prosecutors. In many situations, there is literally nothing else they can do. Mind you, I'm not talking about POs and garden-variety difficult child problems here. I'm talking about situations like the psychiatric-evaluation assault girl <strong><em>dreamer</em></strong> mentioned. Even in that case, what we see on trial day in court is usually the end result of hours, days, or weeks of work behind-the-scenes. Sometimes things sound unfair, but we don't know the "real deal" that is going down. 2 years in jail, but maybe her lawyer/PD/GAL only agreed to it if she serves in the psychiatric hospital and that's part of the deal you wouldn't hear in court. You never know---but we can all hope so! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I don't like it any more than you guys do, but remember that judges can't just let currently-violent offenders "go", and <u>don't we just KNOW</u> that there aren't <u>enough</u> beds for them in the mental health system anywhere. We can't even get OUR kids the help they need, but we expect the legal system (which is NOT a medical body, and generally has strict LEGAL rules to follow) to be able to handle the mentally ill any better? Boo...they're even less competent to make those calls than SDs! Hehe. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>My stepbrother only got help after bouncing through the legal system about 10 times, arrest-sentencing-state hospital-release to voluntary group home-arrest-sentence-state hospital-etc, etc, etc. Finally, he's in a involuntary group home, he's not allowed to leave on his own, and he's monitored closely. That will, unless something drastic happens, never change. But I do understand---it's a very frustrating thing to see. Petition your state/fed delegate/Congressman/woman. But don't blame the legal system itself too much---it's got it's hands tied right now. I don't know a single judge or lawyer who is happy with the way the system works. Just my two cents. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Personally, I vent at society, 'cause we're the real problem. Well, god knows, not <u><strong>US</strong></u>, but everyone else. Hehe.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="eekysign, post: 230096, member: 6479"] I don't think anyone's afraid of the "real criminals". But the legal system in the US is absolutely unable to handle mentally ill defendants. There just isn't a system in place, in most states, to really address the issues such people present to a court. Definitely something that needs to be DEALT WITH ALREADY....but don't shoot the messenger by blaming the police, judges, and prosecutors. In many situations, there is literally nothing else they can do. Mind you, I'm not talking about POs and garden-variety difficult child problems here. I'm talking about situations like the psychiatric-evaluation assault girl [B][I]dreamer[/I][/B] mentioned. Even in that case, what we see on trial day in court is usually the end result of hours, days, or weeks of work behind-the-scenes. Sometimes things sound unfair, but we don't know the "real deal" that is going down. 2 years in jail, but maybe her lawyer/PD/GAL only agreed to it if she serves in the psychiatric hospital and that's part of the deal you wouldn't hear in court. You never know---but we can all hope so! :) I don't like it any more than you guys do, but remember that judges can't just let currently-violent offenders "go", and [U]don't we just KNOW[/U] that there aren't [U]enough[/U] beds for them in the mental health system anywhere. We can't even get OUR kids the help they need, but we expect the legal system (which is NOT a medical body, and generally has strict LEGAL rules to follow) to be able to handle the mentally ill any better? Boo...they're even less competent to make those calls than SDs! Hehe. :) My stepbrother only got help after bouncing through the legal system about 10 times, arrest-sentencing-state hospital-release to voluntary group home-arrest-sentence-state hospital-etc, etc, etc. Finally, he's in a involuntary group home, he's not allowed to leave on his own, and he's monitored closely. That will, unless something drastic happens, never change. But I do understand---it's a very frustrating thing to see. Petition your state/fed delegate/Congressman/woman. But don't blame the legal system itself too much---it's got it's hands tied right now. I don't know a single judge or lawyer who is happy with the way the system works. Just my two cents. :) Personally, I vent at society, 'cause we're the real problem. Well, god knows, not [U][B]US[/B][/U], but everyone else. Hehe. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
venting about my legal system...
Top