Michigan Settles $3.5 Million Lawsuit Over Torture and Death of Timothy Souders, a Mental Patient

<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

 

A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit involving the prison torture and death of Timothy Souders, a young man with psychiatric problems who was shackled to a cement slab for four days until his death.

We rejoice over the legal victory of our fellow advocate for the imprisoned mentally ill, Theresa Souders, her family, and supporters! Even more exciting than a satisfactory conclusion to this bereaved mother’s legal battles is the fact that Tim’s suffering and jail death were not in vain. As a result of his death, U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen ordered the Corrections Department to stop using four-point restraints as punishment in the prison complex.

We believe that our judges and elected officials are coming to understand that mentally challenged citizens cannot be tortured into a state of mental health. Homelessness, jail, and death must not continue to be our answers to mental illness in this country.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

 

*********************

State settles $3.25 million lawsuit over Timothy Souders’ death in prison Posted by Pat Shellenbarger | The Grand Rapids Press <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />July 01, 2008 18:29PM

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/state_settles_325_million_laws.html

A $3.25 million lawsuit settlement in no way makes up for the death of her son in a Michigan prison, Theresa Vaughn said, nor will it stop her campaign to improve prison conditions.

Timothy Souders, 21, died of dehydration and heat exhaustion after nearly four days shackled to a cement slab in a Jackson prison during an August 2006 heat wave, adding urgency to the prison reform movement and prompting Gov. Jennifer Granholm to commission a study of prison health care.

************************

More people who are concerned about human rights should become involved in the effort to decriminalize mental illness in America.  No one deserves to be punished or killed for being sick.   More judges and elected officials must come to realize that imprisoning the mentally ill is not only morally wrong, it is unnecessarily expensive for taxpayers who are required to bear the financial burden of wrongful death suits such as the one highlighted in this story.  We must not continue to substitute psychiatrists with police officers, mental hospitals with prison cells, or tranquilizers with Taser guns and restraint tables and chairs, which are responsible for numerous deaths of mental patients annually.

Voice your opinion on the survey below, and pray that our judges and elected officials will listen!

PUNISHMENT OR TREATMENT FOR MENTALLY ILL AMERICANS?

http://www.surveymo nkey.com/ s.aspx?sm= eBWphMwXQnxAi6m_ 2bLKqUEw_ 3d_3d  

 

If you agree that the deaths of mentally ill citizens under incarceration deserve investigation, please sign this petition:

PETITION TO INVESTIGATE MENTALLY ILL PRISONER’S DEATH:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html

 

See more about the need for decriminalizing mental illness in America at this link:

http://www.nowpublic.com/health/enforced-treatment-vs-prison-acute-mental-patients-and-updates-mary-neal

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
Website:  http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com