I totally agree with "protect the child first"!  "In the childrens best interest"!  Both sides of the judicial mouth.  I am currently in court with a Borderline with homicidal, suicidal ideations, schizophrenia, schizoform, audio hallucinations (from the devil), with narcistic traits, anti-social traits!!!! Scary.  My poor daughter didn't ask for this to be dumped on her either as you didn't ask for your mental condition.  If any child needs extra care taken, it is the child who possibly has the predisposition for any of these afflictions.  I agree WAKE UP!  We need to help who can be helped and take care of those who cannot defend nor understand the afflictions.  It is sad but true.  I am at my wits end since I am being told his conditions "are in the past".  WHAT?? Not medicated, in denial and being able to play that card until.....something terrible happens.  Then guess what?  Why didn't anybody do anything?  Another child lost.

No offense to mildly Schizophrenic people; who are responsible citizens living with their condition.

I've learned some very hard lessons and they have not come easy, or fast.

1. Crazy is as crazy does.

2. Criminal is as criminal does.

3. You have to have evidence that can be presented in court as infalable. This way, you will probably not even have to present it. They may plead guilty.

4. "Not guilty by reason of insanity", can not stand against facts and evidence. Behaivor is, as behavior does. Once you show a pattern of knowing crime, it doesn't matter how sick someone is, they did it or not. Like I said, if a crazy person kills your child (or threatens them), it's not OK. Insane people need MORE of a deterent.

5. "Guilty" carries with it the assumtion that you know what you did. Insanity will not get you a pass. You may get special care; but it will be in jail.

6. No one really cares what we've been through, as family mmebers of the mentally ill. Courts only care about the facts. This is wrong. This promotes crime, and the next victum could be someone you love. By the time you build solid evidence, you could be stalked, abused, or dead.

7. Mentally ill people are not given the same rights as others. They are given much more! While I'm not one to cry about "rights", my little family HAS NOT been given equal consideration; under the law. Cops will tell you outright, their main conceren, is losing their jobs. They WILL NOT take steps to deter crime; coming from a severly mentaly ill person. Thus, people, including close family, get trampled and victumized; long before any (reluctant) help from authorities, actually happens. This is how our system is broken.

8. There are not long term (6 months +) holding facilities WILLING to hold the severly mentally ill. They are let out after temporary evaluation, usually 8 days later (after a Probate ordered eval). They can be extended to 30 days (Judge only, doctors do not initiate this; without a judge); but usually not where the mentally ill criminal wants to leave. Are you getting the picture? Crime has been fostered. Evals are pretty nice with room, board, good food, and needed meds. They are NOT any kind of deterent (for the cronically ill).

Wake up; indeed! I know many of you are well meaning. Why? Because, for years I said it myself. I said, "Hey, don't you get it? His brain is broken!". True that; but once you get past the pain, of your loved one, and that he MAY, never recover (and I've prayed, laid hands-on and still believe that God can heal anybody and from anything). Still, it's not statistically likely (and I have no lack of faith, and know, to just use it.) THEN, and only then, do you realize, we have been creating MONSTERS! Well meaning as we all are. You have got to draw the line. See #2 above.

Anyway, you said it. What will we do; after the poop has hit the fan? What will we do when someone is dead!? Then, will come the questions.... "WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT IT?" You know, when somebodies "baby" is dead, they don't tend to attacke the "poor" mentally ill, thay ask their families! Guess what, families are being EXCLUDED by the "Patients rights act".

Stop freaking waiting; for people to DIE, or get stalked or be abused; before we, as a community act acordingly; with our menatlly ill! This is not us, or them. This is all of us. If you're sick, you don't want society fostering, your own demise. If you're healthy, you don't want to fall prey, or your precioius loved ones, especially all of our children, even being victimized (or worse) by these severly, mentally ill delutions. Some are not even about delusions; BUT IT DOESN"T MATTER! Crime is crime! Please understand that. While you will not be put in jail, for mental sickness, you WILL be put in jail for your crimes! While mentaly sick or not!

Next time you are so "understanding" (and we should be) toward the severly mentally ill, just remeber to tell them that they will still go to jail, just like anyone else; for their crimes. The fact is, more than one, out of Six, jailed people, have a mental illness. This is where our severly, menatlly ill people, wind up. Are they being cared for correctly? Yes; in some cases; but how do we know?

Why in the #$%, are we treating the severly mentally like they are not; until they get so bad off, they commit terrible crimes. That's my biggest issue! Do you want to be the victum that puts the next (just turned) criminal psycho, away?  Think about it. The deck is stacked and this IS whats happening; right now! This is one of those things that people don't know and/or assume can't possibly be true. Guess what? It's true. Protect yourself. Do NOT depend on the authorities alone, to protect you. They will not. They basically need a body, before they will act. That could be you. It could be any of us.

I wish all that you say and based on obvious personal experience there was a way to change this broken system.

I have vowed with whatever is left of me after this court case, I will do all I can to protect other children. 

So many people know what's going on but so many turn the other cheek as if it is not happening to them thus not their concern.  But it is.  If they have family of any kind.  It is happening to them.  My daughter goes to their childs, grandchilds, neices or nephews schools.  I happen to promote kindness and love but others don't and children including mine are so mad/angry.  Justifiably.  It affects us all.  It is all of our problem. 

Look around, we've got to start somewhere.

You know, we will survive. Even death has no sting for me. Take it one day at a time and do not be surprised, at somewhat hidden, motives of mankind.

Mine your P's and Q's; because we are not alowed to go to far, nor to little. Do not cheat. Do not waiver. Do not let family guilt keep you from tough love. Everybodt talks about tough love be few do little but use it as an excuse. Real tough love, is refusing to enable bad behaivior, in those you love. This is not unforgivness. In a real way, it is forgivness. Yet, you must know your role and part. For example, my kids come before my brother. Yet, why do we, as family, allow others to do to us what we would advise anyone else to reject????? Sometimes you have to do the unpopular. Sometimes you don't know the best course, and you must choose the best; at the time. Sometimes, you better do nothing. Sometimes, you better not fail to act.

I just want to encourage you. Consistantly doing what God comands you to do, works. Many times, in ways you can't understand. Basically, HANG ON! You will reap what you sow.

Please excuse my saying so, but most mentally ill people are not violent... Are you aware of that fact? Frankly, i am much more frightened of an angry "sane" person. By the way, most people who are child abusers do not suffer from mental illness... Can you explain this to me?

i have a 26 year old son with severe sz, and yes, when necessary, we had a court order to have him medicated... But from here to the total state of fear and paranoia you describe is a very long way...

There are many severely mentally ill people out there (and i've had the pleasure of writing with some of them here on this site) who are both responsible and productive, and just lovely people. I find your comments extremely offensive. And, frankly, not too smart...

If you're looking for something to be afraid of, be afraid of crossing the street... You're more likely to be hit by a car than to be attacked by a mentally ill individual..

Well, I'm not here to baby your sensibilities. You are right! Many mentally ill people are not "violant". I spent a great deal of my life telling people that they shouldn't be afraid of my brother. Now, he has developed a stalking disorder; where he feel in control, by threatening to murder people. Gues what. That's a serious crime.

You are part of the problem and I'll tell you (kindly) exactly why. We the family members do not recognise bad behaivor, until it's often too late. We, by nature of our love, tend to be enablers. Hindsite being 20/20, now I can see how overlooking certain bad behaviors fostered him moving to a crime.

Part of the problem with the authorities is they get it from both sides. Take stalking; for example. AT THE TIME, a family member may call for their loved one to be arrested for a seriuous crime (evidence etc...); but guess what? What about a week later; when things are settled down? Can you see how mother, for example, would call the police for being threatenedl; but next week exclaim their belove sick offspring would REALLY hurt a fly.

What the problem then? Take the REAL case, where the mental pateneit stood before the judge and EVERYONE said, oh he's never really been "voilent". The judge remanded the son into the custody of his well loving parents. Then, the "never volient" son kill BOTH his parent; but for taking his own life. Wake up indeed.

I know this is hard. No kidding! Did you note where I said, "no offese intended toward resonsible people living with mental disorders". Everyone has problems; even if not mental sickness exaclty. Still, that does mean co-over-dependance, enabling, and criminal behavior is OK.

I write this because you, who say you mentaly ill family is different (not criminal), may need to watch out, for yourself. I said; for years, if a person wasn't into crime before the had a breakdown, they will not likey be criminal because of mental sickness. Well, we can' know for sure. That's what this is all about. You don't know.

Oh and calling me paraniod is rich. You should know that everyone is a litttle parnoid (if you're "smart". A little may save your life. If you only knew how I have been tasked to NOT overreact, you'd be perfusly apologising. Then too, I can also (now this is crazy; in our society) better not, darn well, be too little carefull either. Watching to see if my kids are safe; while getting on and off the buss, for example. But then, as a parent, how much is enough? How much is too little? We are all, tasked to stike a balance (and live with the concequences). Balance being the key word. The point is, I'm not just talking about typical parent responsibility stree. He's said, "you'll be dead." and "I'm going to murder you!", and "What are you going to do about your children now?". Therefore, would you like to lecture me on paranoia; some more?

To be clear, everyone is different. Every case is different. What the same, is crime is being fostered. If you are a family member in denial, you are part of the problem. We work so hard accepting the severity of our menatly sick loved ones that we too often fail to see criminal behaivor. WE ARE THE GATE KEEPERS! If you don't recognized a danger, bad things will happen. This is why it's currently VERY bad, for (us) family members, to be leading the charge, We need help! 

The idea the each and every menatly sick person is beter off, on the streets, instead of an instiutuion (that they can't leave) is flawed. That's the current reality. They eventaully go to jail. How they get there, you should be concerned about. A simple count of convicted mentaly ill people, NOW in jail, should give you pause. Each and everyone of them, harmed someone (often repeatedly with impunity), before they were convivted. Every single one of them to come, is a danger to you and yours. The idea that no mentaly ill sufferer will ever go bad again, is illogical. What's being done to promote peace? I'm trying to tell you something very important. The OPPOSITE is happening; even if you don't WANT to belive it.

alone,

I know your pain.  I also know what you speak of with the desensitization of bad behavior as the enabler.  It takes time for the dangerous to show their hand.  You are like the aunt of my daughters bio-father (he's mentally ill and in denial).  I know his aunt now looks back (20/20 hindsight) at many instances she let go by which were telling.  As she believed the bio-father had too many feelings, was too senstitive rather than him having no feelings at all.  She cannot protect my daughter from him and I see her fear as she knows he is capable of harm.  I don't feel she did anything wrong by overlooking some of his behaviors.  He progressed into the monster you speak of that we as a society are creating.  The courts have given him the right to continue to stalk and harrass.

I am educated in psychology but I don't have the knowledge or education to know how to deal with his mental problems.  His aunt feels guilty for enabling for so many years but now a church has taken over where she left off.  Was he always violent? Maybe not.  Maybe it progresses in some this way and not others. We all hope for the best especially with loved ones. Like you say, tough love.  It can't just be a fleeting thought. 

I understand mental illness does not mean "violence".  But when it does, it cannot and should not be ignored.  How to be heard?  I was told by a parole officer to please bring in some letters I received "in case something does happen, we'll have evidence that led up to the incident"!  I didn't.  It disgusted me.  Just like orders of protection are just a piece of paper and not really any protection. Should be called an order of "direction" so the police know which way to go......

This is an unbelievable accurate post!  To those who are dealing with these people, being stalked and terrorized, there IS no help! They have to actually physically kill, harm or maim someone before anything is done. It's sickening!

Yes, it's terrifying and sometimes, it feels as if only the mentally ill people have rights! We are supposed to simply understand that they're ill. There comes a time when you can't feel sorry for them anymore and can only do whatever it takes to protect yourself from them. If they refuse to follow their medication regime, they should be locked up. The system is failing them seriously and everyone else too!

Very good points. I just have to add, that meds, do not cure mental sickness, or in this case, a stalking (harassing for control) disorder.

I have seen the mentally ill be calm, sometime off their meds. Like, when questioned by the police, and I have seen them act like they were the most possessed person that one could imagine, fully on meds  (other than knock-out sedatives, of course.)

Meds help, and that's all they do. Meds are not the ultimate solution, even though many mild cases may find them very helpful. It's the severe (positive) and scary cases, where unfortunately, people through up their hands and deter all justice. As if that's the best, loving way. These sick people then become "monsters"; just because they feel untouchable by the law (over time) and then COMIT CRIMES FOR ATTENTION. I pray, it's not the loss of, one of YOUR, precious family members. Because I'm telling you. I was SHOCKED to see this all in play. The police WILL wait until someone dead. My children have been terrorized for years, and now there old enough to NEVER be able to forget theses times. All the while i watched the police NOT take my childrens best interest to heart. Why, because they did not want to infringe upon a mentally ill persons freedoms! I KNOW! I still can not believe it. You would think people would put children first. Apparently, that just lip service. This is what is WRONG with being just PC (politically correct), and this is exactly how, it could kill you.

Please educate people about this. People do not commit crimes, because they are irresponsible, not taking their meds. It just makes them an that much more scary criminal.

Remember, insane is as insane does. 

Criminal is as criminal does.

Insanity does NOT mean, one can't be criminal. Now, if the judge wants to temper the sentence, because of a persons mental state, then that's NOT up to us, but him. However, I take issue; with the currently over crowded, overly political court system; NOT EVEN CHARGING mentally sick people with crimes, that they are proved doing! This is your world, and the current reality, even if you can't believe it. We really do need to do something about that.