Synopsis "In the Matter of Edwin Potter: Mental Illness and Criminal Justice Reform"
What is the book about?It is an autobiography about Edwin Potter (not his real name), a man with schizophrenia. He had no treatment, and, as a result, he killed somebody. This is the true story of his trial, his struggle, and his comeback. What is the take-away?The typical prison inmate does not have the skills necessary to succeed in accepted society. That is the problem. What do we do? We need to teach them: reading, writing, arithmetic, social skills, job skills, language skills. They need mentors, housing, help with their substance abuse, and a change in the laws that keep them from taking part in society. The mentally ill have a different set of problems that cannot be fixed by throwing them into prison. Schizophrenia, for example, is a neurological problem, a spectrum illness much like autism. They don't throw people with autism into prison as medical treatment. Why those with schizophrenia? It needs medical research. Winner of the London Book Reviews seal Honoring Excellence. Web site: www.davidegeiger.com
