ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY

1. STATE BOARD RULES ON REPLACEMENT OF VALLEY PSYCHITRIC BEDS

2. ESSEX ADVOCATE: MENTALLY ILL MAN BEATEN PRIOR TO DEATH

3. PROBE FINDS NO CRIMINAL CONDUCT IN SEIDEL SLAYING

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STATE BOARD RULES ON REPLACEMENT OF VALLEY PSYCHITRIC BEDS

The State Health Planning Board voted yesterday to approve Valley Hospital 's plan to close its inpatient psychiatric unit under certain conditions.  Ramapo Ridge, a specialized psychiatric hospital is to add 6 new beds and reopen 6 non staffed beds to replace the Valley beds.  Ramapo Ridge will construct a 10,000 foot addition to accommodate growth in inpatient and outpatient services.  Valley Hospital will make a $750,000 donation to the capital campaign to fund this initiative.

Valley Hospital and Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital will submit a written commitment to the Department of Health requiring that all persons in need of inpatient acute psychiatric care referred from Valley to Ramapo Ridge will be admitted for care regardless of ability to pay, so long as an unoccupied bed is available.  This agreement must remain in effect for at least 10 years.  Valley Hospital will continue to provide psychiatric services in their Emergency Department and to acutely ill medical patients who are in need of psychiatric services.  Outpatient services will remain in effect for at least 3 years.  A change in Valley Hospitals outpatient psychiatric services will require written approval from the Department of Health.

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ESSEX ADVOCATE: MENTALLY ILL MAN BEATEN PRIOR TO DEATH

Stanley Washington , the Essex County Jail inmate found beaten to death in his cell on March 20, had been beaten a month earlier in a separate incident, inmate advocate T. Gary Mitchell said.

Washington, a 50-year-old man who had a history of mental illness, was taken to the emergency room at University Hospital in Newark on Feb. 9 following an assault by an unidentified attacker. He suffered a fractured jaw, Mitchell said.

Read the Star Ledger Story:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1080899693221741.xml

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PROBE FINDS NO CRIMINAL CONDUCT IN SEIDEL SLAYING

Camden County Jail employees will not face criminal charges in the Jan. 27 death of mentally ill inmate Joel Seidel by his cellmate. Meanwhile, the decision by the prosecutor will not affect any lawsuit filed on behalf of Seidel's family.

"The civil rights lawsuit will be based on different legal standards and criteria than those used by the prosecutor's office," said Tom Kline, an attorney representing Seidel's family. "The civil lawsuit will also allow us to fully and completely explore the responsibility of the various parties whose conduct contributed to the death of Joel Seidel," Kline said. "Those involved in the death of Joel Seidel will be held legally responsible."

Read the Courier Post story:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m040204a.htm