(Ed. This is the same woman, telling the different mental health care she received in two states, Arizona and California.)
“My name is Evelyn. I’d recently been transferred from CIW in California to Perryville when I found out my father had passed away. I went to medical at the San Carlos unit and told the guard that I felt like hurting myself. At first, he tried to talk me out of it by saying, ” It’s better here than there.” (meaning the Watch building) I insisted, so he handcuffed me and I waited for a van to take me to watch.
Once there, I was stripped naked and given a smock that didn’t close, so I had to clamp my arms together to keep it from falling off. I was given two blankets and a thin mat. I was on constant watch for 3 days, which meant a male guard was staring at me all the time. I did not see a mental health person until the next day, and that was a nurse for 5 minutes.
Recreation was 30 minutes but only at 4:30 am. Water was from a faucet, no cup. Food was sandwiches only 3 X a day. It was freezing in that cell. I didn’t get clothes till the 3d day.
Throughout this ordeal, the only mental health person I saw was 5 minutes per day, no counseling, only one question, “You gonna hurt yourself?”. It took 5 days to get my 1st book and first hot meal. After more than a week of torture, I was back at my Bay without ever having counseling or offered medication. I finally saw a psychologist who could prescribe 2 weeks after my initial cry for help.”
That was my experience with Perryville’s mental health system.
This is what happened in California when I asked for help. I was never handcuffed. I received a smock with Velcro fasteners. A Registered Nurse saw me immediately as I walked into the cell. No male guard gawking at me, only cameras operated by the same gender. Three hot meals a day, paper cup and spoon. Recreation twice a day, and allowed to socialize with others. Got my clothes back on the 2nd day. Access to the library at all times. The max stay is 5 days. I had constant counseling with a medical professional, and a psychologist was on site at all times.”