Someone needs to be called to account for the disgraceful way in which the state of North Carolina cares for, or doesn't care for, prisoners with mental illness. An internal review, conducted by two prison system nurses, of Central Prison's mental health unit cited some shocking conditions.
They include some prisoners kept in "therapeutic seclusion" in cells without being allowed to come out for meals or recreation time and in highly unsanitary conditions. Such isolation, or solitary confinement, is considered dangerous for those who suffer from paranoia and other mental disorders. Their conditions can worsen in such circumstances. An additional problem noted in the report was that in one case, an order to let an inmate into the day room apparently was ignored, meaning he spent 78 days in his cell.
And the living conditions in terms of filth were appalling, with a stench of urine (according to the report) and just generally unsafe conditions.
The report also covered what appeared to be utterly careless treatment that cost an inmate his life (although the report said there had been a "number of deaths due to medical conditions"). An inmate died last year, for example, because he apparently got too much lithium in his system. Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, but if it is not monitored closely, it can cause kidney problems.
And there were other problems, some apparently chronic. Some inmates were improperly strapped to their bunks, and were able to hit their heads against the walls. Others simply didn't receive treatment at all because of a staff shortage.
Although some prison officials say a new medical tower will improve conditions, this report is not much of a confidence builder. Unless the new medical facility is staffed by 1) enough people and 2) people who are determined to do their jobs well it may not make much difference.
This is not acceptable. These inmates may be convicted law-breakers, punished with loss of liberty. But once they're in the state's custody, their illnesses should be treated with competency and compassion. And what if there is a hope that some of the inmates can re-enter society some day? That hope would be extinguished if bad conditions continue.
Gov. Beverly Perdue, who appointed both Secretary of Correction Alvin Keller and Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young (he'll head a combined department next year) ought to seek answers. In fact, when Michael Biesecker of the Associated Press reported the story, which appeared in yesterday's News & Observer, Perdue should have called both men to her office and asked how conditions like this could be tolerated.
It appears that everyone from the secretaries down the line to prison staff failed these mentally ill inmates to some degree. A new medical facility isn't the cure-all. A competent staff and equally competent leadership is part of the answer, along with a charge from the governor that no excuses are good enough.
