Panel to discuss mental illness and criminal justice

Nov. 07--Panel to discuss mental illness and criminal justice

Memorial Presbyterian Church, 601 24th Ave. SW, in conjunction with National Alliance on Mental Illness Oklahoma, is co-sponsoring a panel discussion on Mental Illness and Criminal Justice, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 14, at the church.

The disintegration of the country's mental health hospital system and the increased use of mandatory minimum sentencing have led to the incarceration of a growing number of individuals suffering from mental illness. Jails and correctional centers have become the largest providers of treatment for mental illness in Oklahoma, while Griffin Memorial Hospital has lost one-third of its treatment capacity due to funding cut backs.

The program will begin with a viewing of selected scenes from a PBS Frontline program, The New Asylums. The panel members, each from their own perspective, will respond to the issues raised in the video. The panelists will also interact with one another and respond to questions from the audience.

Panelists will be Steven Buck, deputy director, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Traci Cook, executive director for National Alliance on Mental Illness (Oklahoma); Emily Virgin, Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 44; Susan Sharp, Ph.D., David R. Boyd Professor of sociology, University of Oklahoma; and Lt. Cary Bryant, crisis team, Norman Police Department.

This free program is open to the community; refreshments will be served.

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