Monday, February 14, 2005

'Urgent steps' needed at prison mental health unit (Iowa) Des Moines Register story - " 'Urgent and decisive steps' are needed immediately to address many problems in treating prisoners at a Fort Madison penitentiary mental health unit where four inmates have committed suicide, according to a consultant's report released today. Thomas White, a consultant for the National Institute of Corrections, said the Clinical Care Unit at the Iowa State Penitentiary is 'currently incapable of providing the level and quality of mental health treatment that should be provided to severely mentally ill offenders.' White said it appeared clear to him that there is virtually no professional therapy being provided to the 150 mentally ill inmates who reside in the Clinical Care Unit, despite the existence of individual treatment plans."