I have dealt with mental health issues for a long time being in and out of mental health hospitals. In 2015 I was arrested for yelling and waving a knife around because I am bipolar and I was delusional and in a manic phase. Instead of going to a hospital to get the help I needed, I was brought to jail and placed on suicide watch. At the jail I was treated very poorly being forced to sleep directly on the concrete with no mattress, no pillow and no blanket for multiple nights on multiple different occasions. I was not allowed to have toilet paper, Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush nor take a shower for periods lasting 2-18 days on multiple different occasions. During this time I was in segregation for 153 days in which I deteriorated as I lost my mind and received an additional 53 charges. I was punished for being mentally ill. No one in their right mind goes to jail for misdemeanors and receives 53 additional criminal charges. And at court I was sentenced to 34 years and feel that though they made an example of since there was no permanent damage or any serious injuries.
Then when I got to Dodge Correctional I attempted suicide in which a large number of guards had to stop me. After I was fast tracked through Dodge and sent here at Columbia to get help psychologically, start groups and have more freedom. Instead I have been in isolation since 4/5/16 because the warden says I am a security risk because of my past behavior at the jail. Thank GOD I still have an open appeal and my family was able to hire me an attorney. Though in the meantime I study la with the hope to help myself and possibly help others in the future.
Here’s What Happens In Solitary
After spending months in isolation, you start to feel as though you have been buried alive. You have people who self-mutilate by cutting themselves. Or they swallow things like fingernail clippers and pens.