Civil Commitment: Terrifying Policy that Pretends Prisoners are Patients
In 1998, Benjamin Alverson was sentenced to 22 months in prison. He completed his sentence, paid his debt to society, and at the turn of the millennium he was excited to be released. Why, then, is he still locked up (without having committed any new crimes) 26 years later? It's due to a disturbing, frightening, unconstitutional, and horrific practice known as Civil Commitment, where courts pretend that prisoners are patients. "It's not prison, it's not punishment, it's just mental health treatment," they insist. The "inmates" must be referred to as "clients." And their cell has to be called a "room." That's all the justification most judges need to certify that being locked away, often for one's entire life, against their will and without any jury trial, is really just mental health treatment. How does this happen? In short, a prison clinician (often with a questionable degree from an online college) makes an assessment that an inmate has a mental illness and might pose a risk to society if he or she is released. Using unreliable "assessments," as they're called, prison clinicians around the USA have recommended Civil Commitments for over 10,000 men and women, many of whom have never been arrested for any crime. And what's worse, they're often treated far worse than actual inmates who committed actual crimes and are serving legal sentences. In this week's episode, PenPals.Buzz founder Big Steve interviews Mr. Alverson about his 25+ years' experience as a "client." He also speaks with Jermy Walker, an Idaho prison inmate who works as a companion to the 64 (innocent) Civil Commitment men currently housed in solitary confinement at Idaho's maximum security prison. We'll share some contact info so that you can become pen pals with some of these captives. A letter from you might be just what they need to make it through another day.
The biggest crime here is the fact that St. Peter Civil Commitment Center in Minnesota hasn't been shut down, and in fact has grown and thrived in the past 10 years. This is a horrific miscarriage of justice and should frighten anyone who listens to this episode. Ben is there now and you're not, but you never know when it might be your turn. When they might think you belong there, with no trial, no jury. Remember Japanese Internment camps?
We're sure you'll agree once you hear these two interviews. Mr. Alverson served his complete sentence -- in fact, he completed it over a decade ago, yet he is still locked up in the confines of a prison that they're forced to refer to as a hospital. Ben seems to almost suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, as he's been locked up so long, he almost identifies with his captors. Like a fish who was born in water, for Ben, being locked up without due cause in this facility is just "business as usual." To us, it's criminal.
And Jermy Walker is an inmate who regularly works with the Civil Commitment inmates in Idaho. He describes how their conditions are far worse than the inmates who were actually convicted of a crime. These guys, some of whom were never ever charged with a crime, let alone convicted, are forced to suffer alone in solitary confinement, and aren't allowed to take part in any of the programs, recreation, or services that murderers and rapists get to take advantage of in the prison. What the hell?!
We would love to hear your comments on this. Leave us a voicemail below, or email podcast@penpals.buzz
If anyone has worked for a Civil Commitment facility, or anyone has firsthand knowledge of these practices (lawyers, judges, clinicians) we would absolutely love to interview you and hear your side of the story. Please get in touch!