Connecticut

Chris T.:
Chris was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder early in life, and his hyperactivity necessitated the help of a tutor to help build his remedial skills. At 13 years old, Chris was a troublesome youth who would regularly sneak out of his house in the middle of the night to ride his bike. A policeman’s advice to Chris’s mother was simply to have her son arrested.  Not knowing the potential consequences, Chris’s mother had Chris arrested for assault during a family altercation. Soon after becoming involved with the juvenile justice system, Chris’s mental health conditions worsened, and he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was not treated for this condition. After being released, Chris’s mental disease caused him to get into even more trouble with the law, and rather than treat him, his repeated incarcerations only caused Chris’s disease to become more of a problem.

Katherine C.:
Katherine, originally a charming and bright young child, experienced a distinct personality change while growing up. She became increasingly isolated and secretive, but the behavior was ignored by her parents who thought it normal adolescent rebellion. This behavior quickly escalated into skipping school, doing drugs, and becoming involved with an abusive boyfriend. The drug use escalated and she was in and out of the juvenile justice system without any serious mental health evaluation, despite evidence that her infractions were likely caused by a mental illness. When she resorted to stealing her mother’s car to pay for her habit, Katherine was charged as an adult for grand theft auto and sentenced to an adult facility.

David B.:
David grew up with an abusive, alcoholic father in Bristol, CT. Soon after his parents divorced, he was placed at age 10 under DCF guardianship as a result of a neglect case. Though initially diagnosed with and successfully treated for bipolar disorder, David was bounced between different group homes when his treatment program was judged too expensive. In group homes he was constantly abused and threatened until he ran away. Soon after, he was arrested and tried as an adult for stealing. Though he was released on probation, when he tried to remove himself from DCF services, he prompted probation violation proceedings. While awaiting a revocation hearing, David experienced extreme depression and was detained for four months without mental intervention. Overwhelmed and depressed, David took his own life while in custody.