By Bob Walsh
The prison system of the formerly great state of
California has bene in a pissing contest for a couple of DECADES with
the federal courts over prisoner health care, especially mental health
care. The court is now ready to fine the state $50 million to express
its unhappiness.
It is
pretty simple. The state needs more mental health workers in the prison
system. The court wants them to run less than a 10% vacancy rate in
those positions and they almost never meet that goal, and when they do
they do not meet it for long. Strangely, mental health professionals
often choose to NOT work with violent and dangerous crazy people in
unpleasant and professionally undesirable settings. Even though the
state pays about 20% above the going rate, more for some specialties,
they don't get that many nibbles.
Unless
the state comes up with some way to FORCE people to take employment
with the prison system I don't see any real easy solution to this.
EDITOR'S NOTE: That's smart. Now there will be $50 million less for health care.
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