An Opportunity to Testify on Behalf of Justice-Involved Individuals Have you wondered if there is anything specific and tangible you can do to support the mission of FFIMI and criminal justice reform? We're sharing the following information to inform you of an important avenue of support you should be aware of and may decide to… Continue reading Mass Judiciary Committee Hearing Announced for Tuesday, July 25th, 1pm ET
Cross-posted from the Falmouth Patch June 28th, 2023 FFIMI applauds Sheriff Donna Buckley's decision to not renew Wellpath's healthcare contract to provide healthcare at Barnstable County Correctional Facility in the fall. "Our inmates come to us with significant mental and physical health challenges, so healthcare has to be a priority," said Buckley. "They will be… Continue reading Barnstable County Sheriff Moves To In-House Medical, Mental Health Staff
By Ernest "Nate" Benjamin “A prisoner has time that he can put to good use. I’d put prison second to college as the best place for a man to go if he needs to do some thinking. If he is motivated in prison, he can change his life!” Malcolm X My name is Ernest `Nate’… Continue reading Through the Lens of 29 Years Behind the Walls of Massachusetts State Prisons
by Donna Winant Many families have paid out great amounts of money for phone calls to keep in touch with incarcerated loved ones. This can cause financial hardships for many struggling to keep afloat. If families have to limit calls due to finances, they cannot receive assurance that their loved one is surviving their incarceration. This… Continue reading Free Phone Calls for Incarcerated Individuals = Family Connection
Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC) has issued our January 2023 public report summarizing findings and recommendations arising out of intensive monitoring efforts at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) from July 2022 through December 2022. The report examines both continuing and new concerns discovered during this reporting period related to facility conditions and BSH policies… Continue reading Disability Law Center Finds Continuing Systemic Rights Violations and Health and Safety Risks at Bridgewater State Hospital
Introduction My name is Tom Kavanaugh. I am a board member of my local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter, the facilitator of the Bridgewater State Hospital Families Group, and the father of a son with mental illness who is currently being held at the hospital. About the Patients If I may, I’d like… Continue reading NAMI Board Member and Family Advocate Adds His Voice at Judiciary Oversight Committee
Representative Michael Day, who moderated the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearings on December 21 stated in the February 2022 issue of Commonwealth Magazine that the then recent Disability Law Center (DLC) report was "deeply disturbing." Based on the January 2022 and July 2022 DLC reports, a barrage of damning news articles, meetings between the Criminal Justice… Continue reading Bridgewater State Hospital Must be Placed Under the Dept. of Mental Health – Not the Dept. of Correction
By Donna Winant For the past seven months there was no chaplain at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). Before that, there was a short-term chaplain. And previous to that, for months and months, there was no chaplain. Family members pushed and pushed and gave suggestions for temporary solutions. This was ignored until advocate voices became louder… Continue reading A Lack of Chaplain Services at Bridgewater State Hospital
By M. I spent the last six and half years incarcerated. The first two years were spent at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). The later years at a county house of corrections. I always felt like I was living someone else's life, that I was in this nightmare and I could not wake up. At first… Continue reading Reflections on Incarceration and Release
Advocates and families clash with pro-status quo government forces to transfer the hospital out of the hands of the Department of Corrections by Summer Maxwell - Repost from Student Dispatch Boston - Stories Around Boston - Nov. 2, 2022 *Editor's note: This piece was written prior to the Massachusetts Elections. FFIMI hopes for positive action… Continue reading Bridgewater State Hospital in Hot Water Regarding Oversight
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 