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Commission Denys Funding For Sheriff’s Mental Health Court Idea
April 17, 2009
The Escambia County Commission affirmed a council’s decision to not give Sheriff David Morgan the $834,000 he wanted to create a mental health court.
Escambia’s sheriff wanted $834,000 from a federal grant to create the mental health court, but over half the money was given to other agencies by a council appointed by the commission.
“Number one, it’s the humane thing to do,” Morgan told the commission Thursday night. “And number two, it will alleviate my overcrowding.” And, Morgan said, having a mental health court in the county could potentially save $1 million per year.
He said the mentally ill in his jail are not just his problem, but “it’s an Escambia County problem”.
Department of Justice block grants have been given to the county’s sheriff and court administrator for the past 12 years. But the Escambia Commission brought back the Public Safety Coordinating Council, a group that had not met since mid-2006.
The council gave Morgan only $387,169 of the grant so he can fund a couple of case workers for four years.
Commission Chairwoman Marie Young, who is a member of the Public Safety Coordinating Council, told Morgan at Thursday night’s commission meeting that they did not disagree that the mental health court was a good idea. “But the funding they have would be a great start,” she said.
The county commission approved the PSCC’s grant awards, giving Morgan just $387,169.
The Pensacola Junior College Police Department, which is a state agency, was awarded $135,039 for a voice system to alert the campus about events like tornadoes and for video surveillance cameras.
The county’s Drug Court received $154,000 to fund 44 treatment slots at Lakeview Center at $3,500 each; and the remaining $157,792 was awarded to the State Attorney to fund an assistant state attorney to focus on gangs and gun violence.
Escambia Sheriff David Morgan wanted the mental health court to deal specifically with offenders that are mentally ill. He planned for the court to speed mentally ill inmates through the judicial system while remaining sensitive to their unique needs. It would have also provided for emergency psychiatric care for an inmate in need rather than keeping them in jail.
The Escambia County Commission, on a recommendation of County Administrator Bob McLaughlin, directed the Public Safety Coordinating Council to disperse the funds. The group’s members are County Commission Chairwoman Marie Young; Chief Judge Kim Skievaski; Deborah Brown from the Department of Corrections; Gordon Pike, Escambia County Community Corrections Chief; and Paul Rollings, from Department of Children and Family Services.The PSCC last met in July 2006.
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program exists to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system—with emphasis on violent crime and serious offenders—and enforce state and local laws.
Comments
7 Responses to “Commission Denys Funding For Sheriff’s Mental Health Court Idea”
Yeah thats right as long as you do and say what the Lakeview people saw its their way or they will drug you .two get you out of thier hair … its been seen several times … Im sure they are good people that work there BUT its not what everyone thinks it is Lakeview is a joke
i would like to add my comments regarding lakeview, as well…my very close family member was lucky enough to have had the benefit of treatment (inpatient twice) at lakeview ….in addition, ive gone to many family support meetings, along w/many weekly narcotic annonymous meetings…consequently, i feel as though i am in an objective position to voice my opinion on the program, staff and outpatient services that we had experienced (several years ago)…EVERYONE was professional, most were friendly, including the nurses…the insides of the building, where the clients/inpatients live, are very clean, tidy and organized..the daily programs are extremely structured and privileges are “earned”…by the grace of God, my family member has been “clean” and productive for about 4 years now…they actually have a bright future ahead, which for many years, our family saw little hope for…but, i will ALWAYS be in deep gratitude to lakeview, staff and NA for the part that they played in my loved ones recovery….(especially, miss lavinia TY)
I was not referring to your comments…I was referring to the derogatory comments made about Lakeview. We agree with each other!
“ignorance is not bliss”
I said the money should have went 100% to the “mental health” court.
Maybe it is you who should step away from the ignorance and educate yourself with a reading and comprehension class.
I have first hand knowledge of Lakeview Center’s inpatient treatment facility as well as other psychiatric facilities across the country. Inpatient treatment for psychiatric issues is inherently difficult. It is trying on the patient and on the family. Lakeview Center may not have the newest building or the nicest facilities, but the staff there is caring. As long as you (as a patient) treat them with respect, that is what you receive in return. My husband owes his life and now stable mental health to the doctors at Lakeview. The comments I’ve read here are disturbing and only feed into the misconceptions that people in this area have about Lakeview. Let’s face it–in-patient treatment for mental illness is not a cake walk. It is not fun. However, this is not because Lakeview is sub-par! It is just the nature of the beast… Please step away from ignorance and educate yourselves on the subject, before speaking out.
Now you wanna talk about LakeView thats a very bad place to go for anybody i have a family member that can spill her heart to someone that really wanted to know the truth about Lakeview it is as bad as you speak (adb) you are telling the truth ….everyone is not aware of what goes on untile you have been there and played along with these nurses or what ever you call them its reallyyyyyyyyyyyy bad (adb) i agree with you 100 per cent you are right ! my family member saw things that freaked her out she stayed on the phone with me day and night telling me stuff… OH MY GOD ITS BAD
Maybe the Lakeview Center will open up a few more Methadone Clinics so these drug users can get their drugs free and legal with our tax paying dollars.
The Department of Children and Families backs these Methadone Clinics with PREGNANT women standing in the meth line with children to get their daily dose.
The doctors put these drug addicted pregnant women on a controlled dose of methadone “to keep the baby alive” when the drug users find out they are pregnant.
This is a FACT. Try calling the HRS about your grandchildren who are being raised by a “drug addict” On Foodstamps, Child Support, Pregnant and standing in methadone line, AND BE TOLD there is nothing they can do because she is legally on the drugs by a “doctor” AND that they don’t care if she is laying in the ditch on drugs, AS LONG AS she left her children in the care of a responsible adult.
Try going to the jail and getting help for a “mentally ill” prisoner.
They don’t care. They treat them like dogs.
The money should have went 100% to the “mental health” court. We need this.
We don’t need more Methadone Clinics.