MENTAL HEALTH
Many of Mr. Kent's clients suffer from some form
of mental illness. Mental illness is at the bottom of much drug and
alcohol abuse and addiction, which is the most common problem of Mr. Kent's
clients. [See Drug and Alcohol
Abuse and Addiction] Society stigmatizes
the person suffering from mental illness and only reluctantly concedes
any help or treatment. Behaviors which are the result of mental illness
impaired judgments are treated no differently by the criminal justice system
than the intentional conduct of the normal person. In fact, in recent
decades our criminal justice system has gone backwards in removing lack
of willful intent as an element from crimes, in shifting to the accused
the burden of establishing his "insanity," and in removing mental impairment
as a basis for mitigation in sentencing. This trend is simply another manifestation
of our modern culture's rejection of its Judeo-Christian heritage, which
taught that criminal responsibility required rational, conscious intent.
Our current society is no longer satisfied with such teachings, as evidenced
by our current cultural scene - its movies, television, talk radio, politics
and criminal justice system. Mr. Kent fights to overcome the prejudice
against mental illness and to awaken the consciousness of the participants
in the criminal justice system for the need for diversion and treatment
of defendants suffering from mental illness. Treatment, not punishment,
is the only rational (and moral) response to anti-social behaviors associated
with or caused by mental illness.
For more information and help with mental illness
refer to the links listed below:
National Institute
of Mental Health
Mental Illness
in America
Dual
Diagnosis - Mental Illness and Addiction
Prisoners
of Mental Illness
Internet Mental
Health
National Mental Health
Association
Incarceration
of Sexual Predators
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