InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/category/treating-mental-illness-in-nh/page/4/)
Under fire: The Secure Psychiatric Unit at the men’s prison incarcerates men and a few women who suffer from mental illness. Some are also convicted criminals – murderers and rapists – but others have not been convicted of a crime. Some aren’t even charged with crime. Read our special reporting.
The Disability Rights Center – NH filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court seeking access to the death investigation of Phillip Borcuk, 34, who was a resident at the Residential Treatment Unit at the NH State Prison for Men when he died in December.
CONCORD – A transgender patient at the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the men’s prison says the Department of Corrections is trying to “evict” her for standing up for her constitutional right to mental health treatment at the facility.
CONCORD — Two mothers told lawmakers their adult daughters are harassed, humiliated, and sometimes “locked down” at the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the New Hampshire Prison for Men, and a former patient recounted nearly dying as his pleas for emergency medical care were ignored.
Kevin Gearhart, who goes by the name Kelly now that she is transitioning from male to female, is being held with men at the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the men’s prison in Concord.
The judge who oversaw landmark case involving troubled homes for the mentally ill sends word to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that state’s efforts to undermine care must end.
I have to say I was upset the committee report stated “the sponsor agrees with (the committee) decision” to kill HB 602. I most certainly do not and never have agreed with killing HB 602.
State Rep. Renny Cushing is urging the public to attend a legislative work session on prohibiting the transfer of people never charged with a crime from the New Hampshire Hospital to the State Prison Secure Psychiatric Unit. The meeting is Sept. 14 in the Legislative Office Building, Room 205 at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.
Rep. Renny Cushing, along with Arnie Alpert and Maggie Fogarty of the NH branch of the American Friends Service Committee, and the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Va., have filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice civil rights division.
Rep. Renny Cushing: “It is a small change but for those of us working to help end the criminalization of people with severe mental illness in our state, I think it is an important value statement.”