Springfield

OpinionManaging Mental Illness in JailsSpringfieldwww.ConnectionNewspapers.com@SprConnectNatasha McKenna’sdeath provides windowon national concern.Anational report released on Feb. 11highlighted the prevalence of peoplewith mental illness incarcerated inlocal jails.“Serious mental illness, which includes bipolardisorder, schizophrenia, and major depression,affects an estimated 14.5 percentof men and 31 percent of womenin jails — rates that are four to six timeshigher than in the general population.… While most people with serious mental illnessin jails, both men and women, enter jailcharged with minor, nonviolent crimes, theyend up staying in jail for longer periods oftime.” See vera.org.Natasha McKenna, a woman with a long historyof severe mental illness, died on Feb. 8,five days after being repeatedly shocked witha taser, restrained, hooded and forcibly removedfrom her cell by six deputy sheriffs “pursuantto its protocols for managing combativeinmates.”McKenna, a small woman according to pressEditorialLetters to the EditorBreastfeeding is About LifeTo the Editor:As a fairly new Virginia resident,I like reading your summariesof county and state governmentactions that impact us all,including the General Assembly’scrossover bills featured in yourFebruary 19-25 issue. I’d like toshare one more. HB1499 protectsmothers who breastfeed their babiesin public; Del. Dave Albo isone of the co-patrons. With itspassage in both chambers and apromised signature from GovernorTerry McAuliffe, the Commonwealthwill become the #48 statein the U.S. to supportbreastfeeding mothers and theirright to feed their babies wherevernecessary – be it a restaurant, reccenter or retail store or any otherpublic or private space where nursingmoms find themselves needingto feed their children.The grassroots coalition, VA Alliancefor Breastfeeding Laws withits leaders Rebecca Geller (a localattorney and mother) and KateNoon, should be commended forthis family-focused effort. Concernedmoms and dads from allover the state contacted their legislators,visited Richmond, andtestified in support of the bill duringits various committee hearings.When babies are hungry, theyneed to eat. As nursing mothers,reports, had been held in the Fairfax CountyDetention Center since Jan. 26, on a warrantfrom the City of Alexandria. Fairfax deputieswere forcibly extracting her from her cell soshe could be transported to the Alexandria jail.Here is part of the police release on the incident:“During the struggle to restrain McKenna, amember of the Sheriff’s Emergency ResponseTeam deployed a conducted energy weapon(Taser) on McKenna. While being restrained,deputies placed a spit net (which is designedto restrict and prevent spitting) on McKenna.A nurse from the ADC medical staff waspresent at that time to check on herprior to transport and cleared her fortransport. Deputies attempted to puther in a medical transport chair, but McKennacontinued to be combative and was moved toa restraint chair for transport.”To understand a little of what was happening,search for images of “spit net” and “prisonerrestraint chair.”When the emergency response team wasgetting ready to load McKenna into a vehicle,“medical personnel from the Fairfax CountySheriff’s Office checked McKenna and determinedshe was experiencing a medical emergency.”McKenna never regained consciousness.we shouldn’t be scared into usinga designated lounge, public bathroom,or, worse yet, be told toleave the premises. Nursing isabout sustaining human life. It’sabout growing a little human beinginto an adult. It’s about life.Studies by medical expertsprove breastfeeding is best for babies.There are numerous healthand emotional benefits to the babyand the mother. (The WorldHealth Organization spells theseout: http://www.who.int/nutriti o n / t o p i c s /exclusive_breastfeeding/en/)There are economic advantages aswell, as families and the Commonwealth(when helping our familiesthrough WIC and other supports)do not have to spend money onformula. About 80.5-percent ofnew Virginia moms breastfeedtheir babies at birth (CDC, statisticsby state, 2014 report). By 6months, it’s only 53.7-percent whoexclusively breastfeed or do a combinationof breastmilk and formulato nourish their babies. By 1 year,it’s 27.4-percent. Yet,breastfeeding is recommended bythe American Academy of Pediatriciansat least until a baby turns1-year old.I am a mother as well as a volunteerwho helps moms withbreastfeeding. I can share thatwomen experience many“boobytraps” in theirbreastfeeding journey that causethis statistical plunge. There aremedical issues and societal issues.Not being able to breastfeed inpublic – or feel comfortable doingso – is one of those traps. Whenbabies are infants, they are ofteneating every 2-3 hours. Not beingprotected to nurse in public, somewomen “shelter in place” in theirhomes. Yet, moms still need toOversight Needed inPolice Shooting CasesTo the Editor:Kudos and thanks for your recenteditorials voicing the concernof many Fairfax County citizens inconnection with the investigationof police shootings.James Madison said of governmentthat we must “oblige it tocontrol itself” through checks andbalances, including vigilant oversightof administration.It is difficult to conceive whereBoard of Supervisors oversight ismore needed than over a group—even a group as honorable andcourageous as our police officers—entrusted to exercise coercivepowers, up to and including lifeThe incident was recorded on video, but “thevideo is currently retained as evidence by detectivesfrom the Fairfax County Police Departmentand will not be released at this time.”Less than two weeks after McKenna’s death,the public knows a lot more about the detailsof this incident than previous cases involvingthe Fairfax County Police, but questions of whathappened, how and why, greatly outnumberanswers.It is standard operating procedure in theUnited States to warehouse disruptive peoplewith mental illness in jails. A 2006 SpecialReport by the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimatedthat 705,600 mentally ill adults wereincarcerated in state prisons, 78,800 in Federalprisons and 479,900 in local jails, accordingto the National Institute for Corrections.We have to ask what constitutes humane,effective treatment for people with mental illness,and often substance use disorders, whoend up in jails. Are the brutal images of NatashaMcKenna’s handling a common experience forpeople with severe mental illness in jails? Whiledeaths resulting from such incidents are rare,they do occur. What can be done to providetreatment?— Mary Kimmmkimm@connectionnewspapers.comwork, shop, take care of our familiesand carry on with daily life.Being restricted on where we can“legally” nurse in public makesbreastfeeding success and life ingeneral a little more difficult. Andwe don’t need to make life moredifficult for mothers; we need tosupport them for success! I’m soglad we’ll finally have a law on thebooks to do just that.Anna Custer-SinghLortonand death.The Board of Supervisors shouldfulfill that oversight function,starting with investigative hearingsinto the reasons for the secrecyshrouding the shootingsidentified in your editorial.State Sen. Barbara Favola andour new Del. Kathleen Murphymay also wish to consider whetherto propose statutory changes tothe Virginia Freedom of InformationAct.Bruce Ellis FeinGreat FallsSee Letters, Page 7An independent, locally owned weeklynewspaper delivered tohomes and businesses.Published byLocal Media Connection LLC1606 King StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22314Free digital edition delivered toyour email box. Go toconnectionnewspapers.com/subscribeNEWS DEPARTMENT:springfield@connectionnewspapers.comKemal KurspahicEditor ❖ 703-778-9414kemal@connectionnewspapers.comAmna RehmatullaEditorial Assistant703-778-9410 ext.427arehmatulla@connectionnewspapers.comTim PetersonCommunity Reporter703-314-0789tpeterson@connectionnewspapers.comJon RoetmanSports Editor ❖ 703-752-4013jroetman@connectionnewspapers.com@jonroetmanADVERTISING:For advertising informatione-mail:sales@connectionnewspapers.com703-778-9431Steve HoganDisplay Advertising, 703-778-9418shogan@connectionnewspapers.comAndrea SmithClassified Advertising, 703-778-9411classified@connectionnewspapers.comDebbie FunkNational Sales703-778-9444debfunk@connectionnewspapers.comDavid GriffinMarketing Assistant703-778-9431dgriffin@connectionnewspapers.comEditor & PublisherMary Kimmmkimm@connectionnewspapers.com@MaryKimmExecutive Vice PresidentJerry Vernonjvernon@connectionnewspapers.comEditor in ChiefSteven MaurenManaging EditorKemal KurspahicPhotography:Deb Cobb, Craig SterbutzelArt/Design:Laurence Foong, John HeinlyProduction Manager:Geovani FloresSpecial Assistant to the PublisherJeanne Theismannjtheismann@connectionnewspapers.com@TheismannMediaCIRCULATION: 703-778-9426Circulation Manager:Ann Olivercirculation@connectionnewspapers.com6 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ February 26 - March 4, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com