Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Request for letters validating Michael's drug addiction and mental health issues

Sorry! I will have those new blogs up ASAP. Procrastination is definitely one of my major character flaws...

Michael appreciates your support; however, as you know, he has no computer access, so please feel free to write him directly @ Mike Brown, X-1211819, Sacramento Main, 8W 212A, 651 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Thanks for caring for Michael and exerting your effort to have him experience true rehabilitation. God Bless!

PD: Alaina Mendez, Esq., Public Defender's Office, 700 "H" Street, Suite 270, Sacramento, CA 95814. Please forward your letters to support his contention that he desperately needs help for addiction and mental health issues and CDCR can offer that instead of 4 years "in the hole"/solitary.

Hi! This is Julie on Michael's behalf. He is profoundly grateful for all your prayers, good thoughts and support. If you could, would each of you be able to send a letter to his PD, Alaina Mendez, outlining your experience with Michael as a friend or relative?

He has addiction and mental health issues, which have by and large been responsible for his unhealthy choices. And if he is found guilty of these alleged crimes, he really risks becoming a "throw-away" by being subjected to years of seclusion, yet again. And then even more damaged when he returns home and tries to re-integrate into mainstream society. I hate what jail and prison to do people; they have to cultivate certain unsavory behaviors to survive in there. The criminal justice system including jail, prison and the promise of rehabilitation desperately needs reform. A topic for another time, but right now, I am pleading with law enforcement to sentence him to rehab and/or a mental heath institution.

So, even if all you can report are more negative experiences with him as a friend or relative, that just reflects and reinforces his assertion that he has addiction and mental health issues that interfere with him behaving as a productive member of society. This is a controversial issue as well, I know. It is a nature (genetic predisposition) to addiction and mental health issues versus nurture and no one is truly sure whether it is one or both. I know there can be a stigma attached to taking psych meds as well as a cultural taboo about utilizing psychiatric and/or psychological services.

As soon as I do further research, I will cite statistics that support the contention that over 50% of the prison population have mental health issues that lead to compulsive, impulsive, thrill-seeking behavior and inability to connect the ideas of actions and consequences. This assertion is more than anecdotal, I just wanted to get a plea out there ASAP because his next court appearance is the 26th of May.
His PD is Alaina Mendez, Esq., 700 “H” Street, Suite 270, Sacramento, CA 95814.

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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New blogs...tomorrow or Thursday

Hi, just an update on Bakari's (Michael's) status. He went to court yesterday and was granted a continuance. He is seeking out friends and family who will act on his behalf and submit letters of support to either Bakari or Alaina Mendez. You may write to Michael @ Mike Brown, x-1211819, 651 I Street, 8W212A, Sacramento, CA 95814. If Michael is found guilty of the alleged crimes, then we are hoping to garner enough support from friends and family to lobby for his sentence to be served in either in a rehab facility or mental health institution to be treated for addiction issues and/or a mental health facility to address his bio-chemical imbalance (related to his addiction). You may contact his attorney @ Alaina Mendez, Sacramento Public Defender, 700 "H" Street, Ste.270, Sacramento, CA 95814.

I have a couple of new blots to post. Wednesday, Thursday or Friday are my busiest days of the week, so I will try and have them posted by the end of the week.

Keep warm and dry tomorrow!

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