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California mentally ill inmates get special units

By WTOP Staff

DON THOMPSON
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State corrections officials on Friday agreed to shift mentally ill inmates into separate specialized housing that will offer them more treatment instead of placing them in the same isolation units as other inmates, a decision that marks a major shift in how the system deals with such prisoners.

The agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento comes after a federal judge ruled in April that California’s treatment of mentally ill inmates violates constitutional safeguards against cruel and unusual punishment.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton acted after the release of videos made by correctional officers that showed guards pumping large amounts of pepper spray into the cells of mentally ill inmates, some screaming and delirious.

Under the agreement, the state will create separate short- and long-term housing units for about 2,500 mentally ill inmates who prison officials say must be kept in solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons. The agreement calls for them to get more treatment and more time out of their prison cells.

“These new policies emphasize treatment while in segregation, increased focus on the lengths of stay in segregation, and a thorough review of an inmate’s risk of decompensation from being housed in segregation upon release from inpatient care,” the department said in its filing.

Michael Bien, whose firm sued the state over its treatment of mentally ill inmates, called the state’s decision “a gigantic change” and “a tremendous step forward” in removing mentally ill inmates from the state’s notorious security housing units and administration segregation units. Experts have said the harsh conditions and sensory deprivation of the isolation units can worsen psychiatric conditions.

The isolation units at Pelican Bay and other state prisons drew widespread attention in recent years as thousands of inmates statewide temporarily refused prison-issued meals to protest conditions.

“There appears to be a recognition after the trial and the judge’s ruling that segregation is a dangerous place and it should be used as little as possible and for as short a time as possible for the mentally ill,” Bien said.

Among the changes:

— Mentally ill inmates will be housed in separate short- and long-term “restricted housing units” instead of existing isolation units.

— They will get more hours of individual and group therapy and more frequent visits with mental health professionals.

— They will be let out of their cells more often, for exercise, therapy and for communal time with other inmates.

— They will have more diversions while they are locked in their cells, including televisions and radios.

— Inmates deemed too ill for segregation will be diverted to other units with even more mental health treatment.

— The state will individually review the cases of inmates with long segregation terms to see if the inmates need to be in solitary confinement and to develop a plan to get them back into the general population.

Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard said in a statement that his department will continue to work “to make lasting cultural changes” in how it treats mentally ill inmates.

Karlton approved the state’s plan less than three hours after it was filed in his court.

It was Karlton’s last official act in the complicated case he has overseen for 24 years, a lawsuit that has helped prompt sweeping changes in the state’s prison system, including a sharp reduction in inmate overcrowding.

Moments later, Chief Judge Morrison England reassigned the case to U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller because Karlton is retiring from the bench.

The separate long-term facilities are planned at three prisons, while the short-term facilities will be at nine of the state’s 34 prisons. The department could not immediately say how much the shift will cost, but most of the mentally ill inmates will be housed in existing prison segregation units that will be converted to their use.

The changes affect more than 30,000 inmates who suffer from severe depression and mental illness that is generally controlled by medication and therapy. About 2,500 inmates in that group are in segregation units on any given day.

The most severely mentally ill inmates, who generally need institutional care, already have their own specialized isolation units. The state also agreed to individually review their cases.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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