ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. OFFICIALS TOUT GAINS AT ANCORA
2. THIRTY-NINE DAYS AND COUNTING...
3. JUSTICE FAILED SAYS FAMILY OF VICTIMS
4. VETERANS HAVEN TO EXPAND
*************************************
OFFICIALS TOUT GAINS AT ANCORA
State officials have been touting a series of improvements
at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital for the past year, pointing
to everything from a big reduction in the number of patients
to improved programming for the mentally ill people who
live there. But the results of a U.S. Department of Justice
investigation released last week painted a much more disturbing
picture of Ancora and led some advocates for the mentally
ill to question whether the state is moving quickly enough
to improve conditions for the 555 patients at the state's
largest psychiatric hospital.
Read the Gannett article:
http://www.app.com/article/200908292010/NEWS03/908290322
*************************************
THIRTY-NINE DAYS AND COUNTING...
The U.S. Department of Justice released a report this week
outlining the findings of its investigation into Ancora.
It concluded that patients there were subject to "serious,
frequent and recurring harm." The state was given 49
days, from Aug. 19, to develop a plan to deal with the deficiencies
outlined in that report or face a lawsuit from the U.S.
Attorney's Office.
See the Asbury Park Press Editorial:
http://www.app.com/article/200908281800/OPINION01/908290302
*************************************
JUSTICE FAILED SAYS FAMILY OF VICTIMS
Loretta Weed's family said the justice system failed her
in life. Now, it has failed her again in death. The Galloway
Township woman's youngest son, Ronald, pleaded guilty Wednesday.
In exchange for his guilty plea, Ronald Weed, 42, is expected
to be sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a requirement
to serve the entire term. But his family said the paranoid
schizophrenic is not capable of entering into the agreement
with the state.
"We definitely don't believe justice was served today,"
Weed's brother, Raymond Sr., said. "I don't believe
he should be out walking the streets, but he doesn't belong
incarcerated like a common criminal."
Read the Press of Atlantic City Story:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/article_d4e9b998-97cc-11de-8617-001cc4c03286.html
*************************************
VETERANS HAVEN TO EXPAND
A facility that serves homeless veterans here is about to
launch a long-awaited expansion project. Veterans Haven,
which opened with 13 residents in 1995, occupies a refurbished
building on the grounds of Ancora State Psychiatric Hospital.
And construction there has been blocked by sharp limits
on sewage service in the environmentally sensitive Pinelands
region. Under the program, veterans can live at the facility
for up to two years while receiving vocational training
and social services.
"They have so many overwhelming issues," Englert
said of veterans who've fallen into homelessness due to
problems like addiction, mental illness, divorce or bankruptcy.
"They need the full gamut of support."
Read more in the Courier News:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200908240310/NEWS01/908230364
