FFIMI Supports Two Important Legislative Bills

This summer has been a productive month of advocacy for the Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness. Several of our members participated in two Massachusetts legislative hearings in support of the following bills:

1.  Representative Ruth Balser’s bill H.2985 An Act transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health.

2. Senator Cindy Friedmans’s bill S.981 An Act Relative to Guilty but with a Mental Illness.

June 27, 2023, Judiciary Hearing on H.2985 – An Act transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health

Donna Winant testified in support of H.2985. Donna states “For those suffering with serious mental illness, moving toward recovery should always be the goal – not punishment. Moving toward recovery is the mandate of the Department of Mental Health (DMH). The Department of Correction, which runs penal institutions, has neither the full resources nor expertise to handle and treat mental illness at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). The Disability Law Center states that moving BSH to the DMH would mean better outcomes for patients.”  She implores the committee to “please prioritize what we have been advocating and pleading for. Secured facilities with an emphasis on comprehensive humane treatment is the right thing to do.”

View Donna’s testimony here starting at timestamp: 53.28

July 25, 2023, Judiciary Hearing on S.981 – An Act Relative to Guilty but with a Mental Illness

FFIMI members Mike Walsh, Donna Wintant, and Dawn Sugarman testified in support of S.981.

View Mike and Donna’s testimonies here starting at timestamp 2.45.

Dawn Sugarman addresses why this bill is needed in her written testimony stating “Although the majority of people with mental illness are not violent and are in fact more likely to be the target of violence, research has shown that individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are somewhat more likely than members of the general public to commit acts of violence.¹ Research also shows that when individuals with SMI are engaged in and adherent to proper treatment, they are less likely to be violent.² Unfortunately in our broken mental health system, many people do not receive adequate mental health treatment and the results can lead to tragedy. When individuals with mental illness become enmeshed in the criminal justice system, the cycle of inadequate treatment continues.” 

Dawn closed her written testimony with this significant statement: “We have a long way to go to fix the problems that exist in our mental health and criminal justice systems. Bill S.981 provides an important first step in allowing individuals with mental illness who are found guilty of a crime to receive the proper treatment they need and deserve. Mental illness is not a choice. It is a medical condition that requires treatment. For these reasons, I urge you to pass this important legislation.” 

Please see Dawn’s full testimony and references here: In Support of S.981 D.Sugarman.

Testimonies by Incarcerated Women and Men

Many incarcerated individuals testified virtually at the July 27th hearing of the Criminal Justice System Administration. The institutions represented were: MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, MCI Shirley, Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, and Old Colony Correctional Center. Please listen to their powerful stories and important testimonies HERE.

Call to Action

Please support these legislative initiatives by contacting your State Senator or Representative and asking them to co-sponsor these bills.  To find your legislators, visit https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator