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Testimony
Joy
Scoble
Clifton, NJ
Before
the
Governors Task Force on Mental Health
January
19, 2005
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Task Force,
My brother has recently been released
from Northern State Prison. He completed his 4 year sentence and was maxed out.
Since his release, hes moved from location to location because he has had
fits of rage and the family member or friend, who has been so gracious as to support him,
no longer feels comfortable having him live with them. Today, my brother is living on the
streets. Today, in these freezing temperatures, my brother does not have a place to
call home. My mother cries constantly on sleepless nights because she is unable to
allow my brother to visit her at home.
About 4 or 5 years ago, my brother attempted to attack my father in
the middle of the night with a broomstick. During this battle, my brother claimed
that he was going to kill my father and when that was done, he was going to go back into
the house and kill everyone else. This, coming from a brother with whom my sister
and I have been so close to in our childhood years, was shocking to hear. The reason
why I do not hold this against my brother is because I know it was something that was
triggered by his mental illness. When he has a fit of rage, as he does
randomly, there is no catalyst that sets it off.
For about 5 or 6 years now, my family has desperately attempted to
get him help for his mental illness. My mom has pleaded to a judge at one point, to
try and have him committed. This was unsuccessful because hes an
adult who cannot be forced into help. For years, hes been
thrown out of Salvation Army and YMCA housing because hes been in fights with other
residents. During his 4 years at Northern State Prison, hes been in multiple
fights and has been placed into solitary confinement more times that I can count. At
one point, his doctor had put him on Risperdal and when family had visited him, there was
a significant change in his attitude. He had seemed completely normal.
Only a few visits after that, he converted back to his depressive state.
After questioning him about the medication, he explained that he didnt think it was
working, so he decided to stop taking it. After that visit, he had gotten into
another fight.
While my brother was finishing up his sentence, I had received a
letter in the mail. It was from a gentleman who had shared a jail cell with him in
the past. This man had been released from jail and he wrote to me because he was
concerned for my brother. He noticed that my brother had reverted back to his
depressive and destructive state and was wondering if he had stopped taking the
medication.
Today, everyone whos met him is convinced that he needs
extreme help for his mental illness. When he gets into a fit of rage, he does
not make sense and he appears to be dangerous. Ive recently contacted my local
city police station to inform them that my brother is living on the streets and that if he
were to get into any trouble, I would prefer it if he was taken to a local hospital for
evaluation on his mental illness. When I spoke to the Lieutenant, he informed
me that he remembered my brother from previous incidents. When I explained that
hes having fits of rage, this officer assured me that if they found him, theyd
take him into a hospital. The next day, my mother called the police on my brother
because he was trying to get into her house. The police officers showed up,
and said they couldnt take him anywhere against his will.
This is why Ive felt so helpless. Numerous times,
Ive contacted hundreds of people in law enforcement and mental health offices, but
have been unsuccessful in receiving advice. As Ive been told, I cannot get
help for my brother until he attempts suicide. Which, in my opinion, is sad.
Its sad that society will not help others until extreme measures are taken.
I wholeheartedly support assisted outpatient treatment and hope that
New Jersey will take the step that so many other states have taken in improving mental
health issues before anything extreme happens. Before lives are taken from innocent
people who are either victims or are those who cannot ask for help themselves. I
implore you to consider giving individuals another chance at life.
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