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Because mental illness is not a crime and people with psychiatric disabilities caught up in the criminal justice system should be receiving treatment not punishment, RIPPD (Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities) is fighting for an increase in the number of alternative to incarceration (ATI) programs in New York City. We have focused our efforts on Queens because they have no formalized system for diverting people with mental illness from prison into treatment.

After months of advocacy aimed at convincing New York State Chief Justice Judith Kaye to create a felony mental health court in Queens, RIPPD learned that such a court will open in fall 2005. RIPPD involved itself in the development of the court by meeting with Justice Joel L. Blumenfeld who will be presiding over the court.

We explained that we wanted a mental health court that was responsive to the concerns of RIPPD members, community members and those who are directly affected including mental health consumers and formerly incarcerated people. All too often mental health courts overlook the true professionals, those of us who have forensic and mental health histories. We come with extensive knowledge of both criminal justice and mental health systems. We gave Justice Blumenfeld two suggestions that would make the mental health court in Queens more effective. We expressed the importance of hiring peer specialists to work at this new mental health court. We explained that peer specialists have intensive training which enables them to work in the field and also the life experience needed to navigate both systems.

We also recommended very strongly that a “Community Review Board” be created to oversee the court. A review board would ensure that appropriate and quality care is afforded to people in the mental health court. It could monitor the resources that are available to the court and deal with complex funding issues that are never brought to the public. The review board will encourage open and frank discussion of all the issues which come up with the consumer, the court and the service-providing agencies.

Another important part of RIPPD’s ATI Campaign is organizing a coalition of advocacy organizations, treatment providers, and private citizens to promote ATIs for people with psychiatric disabilities in the criminal justice system. Since June, sixteen organizations have joined the coalition.

The coalition’s second meeting on August 23rd was a success. Even in the middle of summer with many people away on vacation, we had an encouraging turn out. The group agreed on a powerful name for the coalition: Changing Minds: Mental Health Alternatives to Prison.

The future for Changing Minds holds a lot of hope. We have decided to hold a huge open forum to show our strength and determination to stop the incarceration of people who suffer from psychiatric disabilities. We want to make it known to the politicians and powers that be that there are choices other than prison and jail. We are demanding that the solutions we come forward with be implemented. We invite all to come and join us in this fight to stop the incarceration of people with psychiatric disorders.

Lisa Ortega is open to speaking with you at (646) 602-5664 for more information about RIPPD and the Changing Minds campaign.