Zero Limits ( PDFDrive )

Some of the prisoner-patients had been found not guilty by reason

of insanity (NGRI) and sentenced to be there; some were floridly

psychotic and required treatment, and some were there for examination

and assessment to determine their fitness to proceed (i.e., their ability to

understand the charges against them and participate in their own

defense). Some were schizophrenic, some bipolar, and some mentally

retarded, while others were diagnosed psychopaths or sociopaths.There

were also those who were trying to convince the courts they were one or

all of the above.

All were locked in the unit 24/7 and allowed to leave escorted in

wrist and ankle restraints only for medical or court appointments. Most

of their day was spent in a seclusion room, a locked room with concrete

walls and ceilings, a locked bathroom, and no windows. Many were

highly medicated. Activities were few and far between.

“Incidents” were expected occurrences—patients attacking staff,

patients attacking other patients, patients attacking themselves, patients

attempting escapes. Staffing “incidents” were also a problem—staff

manipulating patients; drugs, sick leave, and workers’ compensation

problems; staff discord; perpetual turnover in psychologist, psychiatrist,

and administrator positions; plumbing and electrical problems; and so on

and so on. It was an intense, volatile, depressing, and wild place to be.

Even the plants would not grow.

And even when it was relocated to a newly renovated, much more

secure unit with a fenced recreation area, no one expected anything to

really change.

So when “another one of those psychologists” showed up, it was

assumed he would try to stir things up, attempt to implement state-of-

the-art programs, then leave almost as soon as he came—ho hum.

However, this time it was a Dr. Hew Len, who, besides being

friendly enough, appeared to do next to nothing. He didn’t do

evaluations, assessments, or diagnoses; he provided no therapy and did

not perform any psychological testing. He often came late, and did not

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