Charged but never convicted: Inside the lives of forensic patients | Four Corners
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2023
- Around Australia an estimated 700 people who have been charged but not convicted of crimes are being detained in the forensic system, many indefinitely.
In some of the most extreme cases, they’re locked up for years in solitary confinement with no release date.
They are living with disabilities and mental illness, and some have been determined too great a risk to live in the community because of their history of violence and complex behaviour.
For the first time, forensic patients and their families are speaking out, and Four Corners reveals allegations of torture and mistreatment.
Originally broadcast as 'Trapped’ on ABC TV and ABC iview on 16 October 2023.
Four Corners is Australia’s premier investigations documentary series.
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What about the human rights of the victims?
Without knowing what these people did to innocent members of the public, it's hard to know how they should be treated
We used to have homes for the criminally insane. Asylum for those unable to be outside. If my child was hurt by someone I'd want them locked up whatever their reasons. I don't know what the answer is but we can be humane.
So he burnt his house down, committed some unspeakable act, assaulted staff members, and I am suppose to what……say he should go free because his story is sad …..no thanks.
It is not just QLD. Victoria is the same. I have seen this in action. Simple answer. A prison is not the place for people with extreme mental health. I am not saying they aren't a possible risk to society, but they need a different type of facility where they are provided with to proper type of qualified and trained care. Not just a few psych. nurses, occasional doctor, and the rest of the looking after is the prison officers, who aren't in a position to interact with them as needed and certainly not adequately trained in this field.
I don’t see a single solution in this long report
Not a mention about victims or their families ?
Forensic patients? It's a meaningless term conveying nothing to the average person.
This man who was his once worker, we need more like him!
If a person is deemed not fit to stand trial, the community expectation is that they should be cared for. Not shoved away into a box and forgotten about. Again we have failed people with disabilities.
Not allowing UN inspectors in is pretty damning…
Practical wise what are you going to do with the people in the community ? Huge NDIS packages don’t help when the support workers can’t keep the people safe and they end up back in the mental health system that cannot cope
No one is going to get better being kept in a cage. Institutions should not be able refuse entry to investigators. What are they afraid of us seeing? So inhumane
How very sad that some people live in such hopeless circumstances.
His plan kinda backfired...
This is heart breaking! This is why we need mental health hospitals not cages!
So who has some ideas for solutions? What should we do with dangerous and mentally I’ll people?
This is locking up and throwing away the key.
Mental health facilities need to be a thing. Bring back psych wards. When people are dangerous you can't expect it to be easy to find care. The public need to be safe.
What’s the alternative? What would be the solution ?
Tricky situation though.
Same problem in uk today.
My goodness. This country has really lost the plot. To treat human beings like this is absolutely disgraceful. Australia has become a culture of just following along to be popular and few challenge what is put before them. We all know what is right and what is wrong. Don’t just sit back and follow the blind people. It’s ok to disagree. The current PM and the Labour Party are an example of this follow the blind culture. IT’s damaging and it’s not good for the countries future.
The Qld government and by Extension the Federation of Australia need to recognise these human rights abuses and violations of our signature on the UN charter for human rights can only go un-answered for so long.
Anyone dealing with this system should be able to see it for the abject failure it is, abusing disabled people whove already been abused, making them worse in many cases rather than supporting them and their right to exist outside of abusive, torturous institutions.
This is a simply safe place to go, being mentally ill does not hold you unacountable for your actions. What really needs to be done here is protect these poor souls is intervene when these people are younger, they must be so tired of not being protected when they were children and now as adults.
This is tragic.
this is disgraceful what some are being subject to
It’s just as bad here in the states !
very sad but please show another option and not just a sob story if they are a constant danger to society
Just like a freaking government… Take your money in taxes and don’t do anything good for the people
Extraordinary!
Btw, my heart breaks for Michael & his family. I have no idea how this can ever be fixed.
I hope someone reads Michael the comments here so he knows people would care, if only they knew. Stay strong guys. 💔
Nup. No bleeding hearts for crims, sorry about the mental health issues, at keast society is safe from these people if they are held.
They opened the doors of the asylums in the 90s. Biggest mistake ever. There needs to be dedicated secure mental health facilities now.
Sue those forcing his demise
Heatley faked schizophrenia, his situation is self inflicted.
Wherever there are vulnerable persons dependent on compassion, ethical decision processes and suitable resilient persons adequately educated to develop and communicate care plans with their case client there seems to always be an antagonist who gets enjoyment in being an adversary to the positive development of the patient/client. There is so much disappointment and unnecessary frustration for both the case worker and the client when the antagonist is permitted and aided through the establishment, their employment and services to continue their destruction of a person which ultimately costs the taxpayer, incurs unhelpful stress to immediate families and results in diminished resilience and mental stability in the client. Thank you, ABC for bringing this area of misconduct to the attention of the wider community most of whom were unaware of this. This is another injustice to the constituent and a horrific crime enacted by government departments that need to be investigated and appropriate legislation introduced to protect those involved from malpractice and permanent brain and mental state damage through mistreatment/inappropriate handling and forced and inappropriate medications.
These people need their day in court. It's their right. They may have mental issues, but it should be sorted out. They have a right to trial and life in society IF they are treatable..
Great documentary- no person regardless of their crime should be treated inhumanely, but it happens daily. To know that persons with intellectual & psychological disabilities are treated in such a barbaric way is just criminal. They too are deserving of a life - it has long been established that isolation is the cruelest form of punishment you can inflict - no human being should be locked up simply because they are disabled & receiving no practical support or assistance in a government institution that inevitably is not interested to deal with these persons as individuals deserving of a life. The cruelty of their circumstances are not of their making yet still they are punished more than other members of society. So sad to see & hear the utter despair of these persons who are just abused by the very systems in control over & over & over again. There has to be a better way but the government is simply not willing to spend the money to support these individuals they would rather warehouse them & leave them to rot in the very system the government designed as a way of control & penny pinching rather than what is right, fair & just.
This is sad
Thanks for the eye opener .🤔
What kind of medication is he being given?
How can we help?
Ultimately, it is each individuals responsibility to control their own behavior. Not everyone is respectful or kind.
This is cruelty
So when they are well enough to stand trial, that is when they will get their justice as it were?
Once again, Australia is blowing my mind for all the wrong reasons...
This appears utterly inhumane!!
This SICKENS me! So glad you brought this to light 😊
😢 this absolutely breaks my heart and upsets me! having ppl close being through the same treatment.. there's no corrections no help for the non disabled ppl of Australia so all the poor ppl going without proper mental health services. Just lock em up and make money out of sight out of mind sh*t! & of course they become like they're made to feel like animals or worse! Needs to be a whole place for mentally disabled ppl that have some quality of life... & proper courses in life skills ECT give ppl some quality of life and purpose! So sad just heartbreaking. Needs to change the whole system 🙏🏽🦋🌻💔
Oh your bleeding heart.....
VERY HARD TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM SAFER IN JAIL 😊😊😊
What happens when someone gets hurt or worse then what.. Adrian he fell through the cracks while the family of the victim are left to pick up the pieces
Same issue in America. The sad truth is some just are judged and treated wrongly. Others in certain situations are kept for studying etc they'll deny it, call it conspiracy but it isn't.
Society is a cruel existence sometimes is so vile , do we ever become a better society , how do victims forgive
It's everyone's fault but his?
Some great people here.
Sounds an looks to me a place to leave an forgot those they deem to be unhandleable, indifferent, thats the states way of locking up indefinitely no release dates, a sentence that exceeds life imprisonment.. everyone should get a second chance especially when paid for crimes against society, Australia has no death penalty also maximum sentence, this is way to house with no release date..😡
No you cost his life
People mentioning victims; it appears these people have already paid their due.. there is a limit to how much punishment we dole out to regular prisoners. Many of these people were never Convicted and could be innocent, or it could have been a misunderstanding with no real victim. Does not give the state the right to lock them up for the rest of their life because they could be unpredictable. We are all capable of despicable crimes but we don't go rounding everyone up because of potential crimes right? The punishment must fit the crime. Honestly, if someone hurt me but they didn't know the hurt they were causing and were apologetic, I would move on.. it's different when it's malicious.
This is so sad. Who the hell do we write to get this person out of this cage. His behavior is expected. Ten years like this. This is not living. Australia do better.
The government said yawn yawn yawn
At this stage, he needs to be given a chance.
Just don't do the crime. Quit whining about your punishment.
They're low IQ, brain damaged or otherwise less aware of their actions than the rest of us. Aren't we judged by how we treat the least of us, the most vulnerable?
I think there are far more serious problems a foot.
It's not a serious issue til you are the one they lock up with no avenue for release.
Yeah it's all connected though. Treating any group of people like crap is a slippery slope.
Ultimately, self-control is a responsibility for each individual. Not everyone is kind or respectful.