NPR Series: Violence At California's Psychiatric Hospitals https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135540070 There has been a dramatic increase in violence at California's state psychiatric hospitals. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:53:08 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Violence At California's Psychiatric Hospitals https://www.npr.org/series/135540070/violence-at-californias-psychiatric-hospitals How Do You Hold Mentally Ill Offenders Accountable? Mental health and law enforcement officials in California are wrestling with that question as violence at the state's psychiatric hospitals continues to escalate. They are trying to determine how to hold violent mental patients accountable for their actions without punishing them for being sick. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/143859695/how-do-you-hold-mentally-ill-offenders-accountable https://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/143859695/how-do-you-hold-mentally-ill-offenders-accountable Mental health and law enforcement officials in California are wrestling with that question as violence at the state's psychiatric hospitals continues to escalate. They are trying to determine how to hold violent mental patients accountable for their actions without punishing them for being sick.

]]> Ina Jaffe In Calif. Mental Hospitals, Assaults Rarely A Crime Most of the patients in the state's psychiatric hospitals have been committed by the criminal justice system — and violence against staff members and other patients is on the rise. But of the thousands of attacks that occur each year, few are treated as crimes. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/143785211/in-calif-mental-hospitals-assaults-rarely-a-crime https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/143785211/in-calif-mental-hospitals-assaults-rarely-a-crime Most of the patients in the state's psychiatric hospitals have been committed by the criminal justice system — and violence against staff members and other patients is on the rise. But of the thousands of attacks that occur each year, few are treated as crimes.

]]> Ina Jaffe Violence At Calif. Mental Hospitals: 'This Is The Norm' Thousands of assaults occur each year at California's state psychiatric hospitals. Last year, a staffer was killed at Napa State Hospital. Employees there demonstrated, demanding greater safety. Now, protests have spread to a hospital near Los Angeles, where workers say it's not if you get assaulted, it's when. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/137856157/violence-at-calif-mental-hospitals-this-is-the-norm https://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/137856157/violence-at-calif-mental-hospitals-this-is-the-norm Thousands of assaults occur each year at California's state psychiatric hospitals. Last year, a staffer was killed at Napa State Hospital. Employees there demonstrated, demanding greater safety. Now, protests have spread to a hospital near Los Angeles, where workers say it's not if you get assaulted, it's when.

]]> Ina Jaffe Changes Sought After Death At Calif. Mental Hospital There has been a dramatic increase in violence at California's state psychiatric hospitals. A patient at Napa State Hospital died there last week, less than six months after an employee was killed. The state's secretary of Health and Human Services has lifted a hiring freeze to add more clinical and security staff. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/04/19/135443369/hiring-may-ease-violence-at-calif-mental-hospital https://www.npr.org/2011/04/19/135443369/hiring-may-ease-violence-at-calif-mental-hospital There has been a dramatic increase in violence at California's state psychiatric hospitals. A patient at Napa State Hospital died there last week, less than six months after an employee was killed. The state's secretary of Health and Human Services has lifted a hiring freeze to add more clinical and security staff.

]]> Ina Jaffe Violence Surges At Hospital For Mentally Ill Criminals Atascadero State Hospital in central California was built to treat criminals who are mentally ill. But since 2006, assaults on staff have risen markedly. Employees blame the increase on a federally enforced plan that they say requires them to spend more time on paperwork than treating patients. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:30:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/04/08/134961895/violence-surges-at-hospital-for-mentally-ill-criminals https://www.npr.org/2011/04/08/134961895/violence-surges-at-hospital-for-mentally-ill-criminals

Atascadero State Hospital in central California was built to treat criminals who are mentally ill. But since 2006, assaults on staff have risen markedly. Employees blame the increase on a federally enforced plan that they say requires them to spend more time on paperwork than treating patients.

]]> Ina Jaffe At California Mental Hospitals, Fear Is Part Of The Job When a psychiatric technician at Napa State Hospital was murdered last fall, allegedly by a patient, staffers began going public with their safety complaints. More than 80 percent of the patients at the hospital arrived by way of the criminal justice system — deemed either not guilty by reason of insanity or just too dangerous to be paroled. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:55:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/04/07/134961467/at-california-mental-hospitals-fear-is-part-of-the-job https://www.npr.org/2011/04/07/134961467/at-california-mental-hospitals-fear-is-part-of-the-job

When a psychiatric technician at Napa State Hospital was murdered last fall, allegedly by a patient, staffers began going public with their safety complaints. More than 80 percent of the patients at the hospital arrived by way of the criminal justice system — deemed either not guilty by reason of insanity or just too dangerous to be paroled.

(Image credit: J.L. Sousa)

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