InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/category/treating-mental-illness-in-nh/page/3/)
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.
CONCORD — Supporters are holding a walk from the state prison in Concord to the federal courthouse for Andrew Butler of Hollis and other prisoners at the Secure Psychiatric Unit of the men’s prison on Thursday starting at 9 a.m., according to an American Friends Service Committee news release.
In New Hampshire, rights matter more for some than for others when caring for the mentally ill, especially compared to a state like Colorado where lawmakers are spending millions to make sure mentally ill people who haven’t committed a crime are not locked up in jails, even for very brief holds.
UPDATED. The practice – which is unique to New Hampshire – caused an uproar in Hollis recently after townspeople learned that Andrew Butler, 21, a popular former high school star athlete has been held at the prison psychiatric unit since last fall even though he isn’t charged with or been convicted of a crime.
DRC’s investigation found that SYSC staff subjected a child with emotional and behavioral disabilities to abuse through the improper use of physical restraint. The restraint, which fractured the child’s shoulder blade, violated New Hampshire’s law regulating the use of restraint and seclusion.
The town of Hollis has united behind Andrew Butler, a popular, outgoing former high school star athlete who is locked up in the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the state prison for men in Concord even though he hasn’t committed a crime.
Patient Andrew Butler, 21, who was a well-known athlete as a Hollis High School student, argued through his attorney that he is locked up in a maximum-security prison because of mental illness even though he hasn’t committed a crime.
CONCORD — A federal judge has ordered the speedy release of records to the Disability Rights Center for its investigation into the death of a mentally ill inmate at the Residential Treatment Unit at the state prison for men.
CONCORD – Criticism mounted against the Secure Psychiatric Unit at NH State Prison for Men Tuesday as members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard complaints about the lack of treatment there.
CONCORD – The Disability Rights Center is monitoring the rights and safety of individuals with mental illness who are locked up at the Secure Psychiatric Unit at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men, according to DRC staff attorney Andrew Milne.