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 PROMO!!!!!!!Return to index of stories... |
We take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire. Find out how it works. |
| Show # 1488 Return to index of stories... |
this show is 1:00 under at 25:46 |
| Preshow #1 court Return to index of stories... |
We'll take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire, where the goal is to help "clients" cope with mental illness and stay out of jail. |
| Preshow#2bankrupt Return to index of stories... |
A New Hampshire couple seeks a fresh financial start after going broke. We'll take a closer look at filing for bankruptcy. |
| Preshow #3 recycle Return to index of stories... |
And later, what do you do with your old cell phone? Find out about a new push to recycle them. |
| Hello/Intro Mental Return to index of stories... |
Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. It seems like every week we learn of a serious crime committed by someone who's mentally ill. Department of Justice statistics should come as no surprise that one in 6 prisoners in the U-S suffers from a mental illness. New Hampshire courts report that number is even higher in the Granite State. Many have committed an offense while off medicaton or out of treament. When convicted, they serve their sentence only to commit another offense upon release. New Hampshire's court system wants to break that cycle. So they have started mental health courts in 3 New Hampshire communities. Outlooks Richard Ager takes us inside the latest one to open in Rochester to see how it works. |
| Mental Health Courts Return to index of stories... |
Mental Health Court Script Soundup: Exteriors of Rochester court Track: It’s Thursday morning at Rochester District Court. As usual, the judge, prosecutor, public defender and others are here. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:14:40 So who do we begin with this morning? “Mary.” How is Mary doing? “Mary is doing well, she was placed on the electronic monitor last week. She has had all negative tests on her sobriety. Track: What’s different is that this is mental health court, where every participant shares a common goal: help the client - who stands accused of a crime - get treatment and stay out of jail. In this court, traditional roles are put aside - as the defense attorney recommends getting tough on her client’s curfew. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:16:24 *** It seems like she asks for extensions a lot - and she’s given them a lot because she’s done well up to this point - now that I think we can agree she’s sliding back a bit, we should tighten it up. I think that we can get a consensus on that. What do you think? 10 o’clock? Bite: Mental Health Court tape 2 2;19:50 THAT MUST BE ALMOST COUNTERINTUITIVE FOR YOU. Well, it is at times. The great part of it is that having a representative of the county attorney’s office and the public defender’s office is - it’s different roles for both of us but sitting together at the same table and talking about what’s best for somebody, an individual person - is really the great part about this without having to worry about legal proceedings or other parties that may be involved. Track: Mental health professionals are a vital part of this team Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:16:55 She hasn’t earned staying out late in my mind. I don’t think it’s so much who she’s with - because we probably can’t control that. But it does seem to me that she’s lost her privileges. And she needs to do some work on herself. Track: Most important, every client must plead guilty to the charge to enter the program. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:55:57 * The main component is their willingness to do it. They have to be motivated. They have to want to do it. If they don’t want to - if they’re the slightest bit equivocal about it, they won’t come in. Track: With the morning meeting over, Mental Health Court begins it’s half-hour session. Mary - who was accused of assault and is dealing with bipolar disorder is the first client. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:41:15 I’ve been getting good reports that you’ve been compliant. I know you’re on the monitor and you feel like you’re under arrest - but you’re not. You understand why we had to do that. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:42:25 “How’s your job?” It’s getting a little stressful. We have a new assistant manager and she’s very unapproachable. And she’s the type of person who will reprimand you in front of the customers. Track: After an update on her medications and counseling sessions, Mary is told her curfew is now 9:30 every night. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:42:25 0:44:20 I just want to state that that’s difficult for someone who’s very hyper. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:44:48 It’s only temporary. There’s a lot of good and bad that goes with this sometimes. But we want to keep you on the straight and narrow and ensure that you are compliant. That you get through this program successfully. It won’t be long before we can put you up to phase two. I do want you to get there - and I think you also want to get there. Through this program. Can I just see a smile before you leave? No? Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:45:24 I think you’re doing okay. And we’ll see you next week. You take care. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 0:49:55 We’re so used to seeing hundreds of people come into court and I sit behind the bench and I dictate things to them. I find them guilty, I sentence them, I set bail - and I never really get into a conversation, never get into a one on one, and this mental health court is just the opposite. I feel I open myself up to them, it makes it easier for them to open themselves up to me and the mental health court team. For the most part, unlike Mary today - she’s uncomfortable, she’s had a bad week. But that happens when people have mental health problems. But for the most part, these participants come in and they feel good about it. Track: The Rochester court began its first session in 2007, following the earlier introduction of a drug court - also aimed at changing behavior. Bite: Mental Health Court tape 2 2:16:45 We’ve graduated almost 20 people now. And out of those 20 people - those people have not been rearrested. THAT’S ZERO RECIDIVISM. Exactly. And these are people who have completed a year of probation after the drug court. Track: Numbers like that have won the support of local police. Bite: Mental Health Court tape 2 2:07:55 Officers have to see that it’s going to help the people involved, and help with work load and redeployment of officers and things like that. The biggest thing like that is - you show them a system that stops folks from coming back over and over and that gets buy-in from law-enforcement really fast. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:42:25 0:46:50 I have nothing negative for you Steve - you’re doing well. You are now in Phase Two, moving along at a great pace. We’ll want to see you every two weeks - so we’ll see you in two weeks instead of next week. Is there anything you want to talk about? Track: Steve is the only other client in this session. And he’s about to get good news. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:47:10 We had talked about him not having to call every single night…. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 0:48:15 See in two weeks. Thanks Steven. That concludes this session of mental health court for this morning. Thank you very much everybody for coming. Track: Rochester began its mental health court in 2007, becoming the third such court after Keene and Nashua - where Judge Jim Leary presides. Bite: Mental Health Conference tape 1 9:49:57 **** Come into the courts - we’re the new emergency rooms, the jails have become the new psychiatric hospitals. Track: At a recent conference, district court judges from across New Hampshire heard first hand about the cases of mental illness crowding the courts. Bite: Mental Health Conference tape 1 9:47:55 We’re seeing in Nashua, and I’m sure you’re seeing it as well, returning veterans with symptoms of PTSD - and it’s obviously a very difficult issue to deal with, considering that these individuals have just been putting their lives on the line for us and they’re coming back with mental illness as a result of it. We have to deal with that situation. Bite: Broderick Interview Tape 12:49:25 *** In my view, the stereotypes about mental illness should cease and all of us should be silent no longer. Track: That message was driven home by the state’s Chief Justice, who was severely injured in 2002 when his son Christian assaulted him. Soundup: OT-491: 0:01:45 "John Broderick." Track: Christian Broderick was sentenced to state prison, where he got the therapy and medications he needed. Bite: Broderick Interview Tape 12:43:57 When he was released from the state prison after 3 and a half years, in Sept. of 2005, he came out a well person. And as I said that day to someone who asked, ‘my son is not someone who was bad who is now good. He was always good -he’s now well.’ Those are very different concepts. Track: It’s estimated that one in five prisoners in New Hampshire is mentally ill. The state Dept. of Corrections now spends just under $5 million a year on mental health services - but it is not enough. Bite: Broderick Interview Tape 13;03:55 The women inmates in Goffstown present a very high rate of mental illness. These are not Ozzie and Harriet’s kids that are incarcerated there, but that’s not to say they are beyond salvage. 85-90% of the women incarcerated in Goffstown have 2 or 3 children apiece. Who’s taking care of those kids? And who’s paying for it? Dealing with the mental illness of their mothers will change those children’s lives and will save the state of NH money over the long term. Track: There is no dedicated state funding for mental health courts. The three existing courts rely on grants or county support for their existence, which drew this warning from Justice Broderick. Bite: Broderick Interview Tape 13:11:40 If we do not address mental illness more aggressively and intelligently through drug and mental courts, community mental health and in the prison system itself; we will surely need to build more prisons to house more people with more mental illness. Track: With an investment in mental health court, people like Lynda - who suffers from bipolar syndrome - can turn their lives around. Video: Mental Health court session tape 1 01: 00:04 ** *** Capiello and Lynda do big hug Bite: Mental Health court session tape 1 01:02:19 I didn’t want anything to do with it at first. I just was - what do you mean - this is a deal? I didn’t think this was a deal at all. I didn’t want anyone in my life telling me what to do. Track: But the alternative - jail time - was even less attractive - and Lynda, with counseling and treatment, did the Rochester program - and became its first graduate. Bite: Mental Health court session tape 01:06:33 For anyone with mental illness, it’s just - it just helps tremendously - there’s so much support. In that program - you would have to go through it. AND IF THIS HAD BEEN AROUND MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO? I don’t know - it should have been around - if it was around 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have gone through what I did go through. Prison. Bite: Mental Health Court tape 2 02;04:40 Someone once said a year in prison in NH costs the same as a year at Harvard. So that’s expensive, and to keep people out of jail is a worthy goal. Society benefits all the way around - not only financially - it’s a good thing to do. You keep people on track, out of trouble - the cost to society as a whole is much better. It’s just a win-win for the state of NH. Track: For NH Outlook, I’m Richard Ager Bite: Broderick Interview Tape 12:58:40 *** My son is unique to me but he is not unique. He is not the only person incarcerated at the state prison whose life could be changed, and we’re not the only family in NH with someone in the state prison whose lives could also be changed. Every life you change, you change many other lives too. I’m a witness to that. END OF SCRIPT |
| Tag Mental Courts Return to index of stories... |
There are plans in the works to open a fourth mental health court in Portsmouth. |
| Next 1 Return to index of stories... |
Over their heads in debt a New Hampshire couple seeks help through bankruptcy. |
| Intro Bankruptcy Return to index of stories... |
New figures show the number of bankruptcy filings in New Hampshire skyrocketed in 2007. The U-S Bankruptcy Court reports nearly 3-thousand filings in the Granite State last year -- that's up 56-percent from 2006. 2 years ago when bankruptcy laws changed -- we brought you a story about filing for bankruptcy - as part of our Outlook on Money series. We thought this was a good time to revisit the story which featured a young Dover couple, drowning in debt, who turned to bankruptcy for relief. |
| Tag Bankruptcy Return to index of stories... |
Since we first spoke to Josh & Melissa a lot has happened. During their chapter 7 bankruptcy filing they inherited some money. Those funds enabled trustees to settle much of their credit card debt. But, they still have a bankruptcy notation on their credit report for the next 10 years. As a result of our story, a local college learned of Melissa's Art Appreciation degree and offered her a teaching job which she accepted. Josh & Melissa are also now the proud parents of a baby boy. They have sworn off credit cards, continue to live on a budget and have a 401K and savings account. Best of all, no more calls from creditors. s |
| Next 2 Return to index of stories... |
What you need to know about the new push to recycle cell phones. |
| Intro Cell Phone Return to index of stories... |
Cell phone recycling is an "easy call." That's the slogan of the Environmental Protection Agency's new campaign to encourage all of us to recycle old cell phones. Outlook's Phil Vaughn has more on why recycling is so important. |
| Cell Phone Recycle Return to index of stories... |
People chatting on phones N1- It seems as though we have a lot to say to each other. In a nation of 300 million people, there are almost as many cell phone subscribers - about 245 million. Leah - increase of numbers every year N2- Not only are the number of subscribers on the rise, Leah Bowe from the Environmental Protection Agency says the turnover rate of phones is also growing. Leah - number of discarded phones N3- With so many cell phones coming and going - where do the discarded ones end up? Streeter 1 Streeter 2 Streeter 3 Leah - how many end up in landfills? Stand up - A cell phone may look innocent enough but open it up, look inside and there are some pretty nasty things in there. N4- Here's a partial list. These are the toxic materials needed to help make your call home -- happen. Leah - what happens to phones once in a land fill N5- And Bowe says that once the toxins make their way from your cell phone in to the water table - it's your health that's at risk. Leah - effects on people N6- One way to handle the millions of old cell phones people no longer use is to recycle them. Leah - describes recycle program N7- Since the summer of 2007, NH has required that old computer monitors and televisions be recycled - no more throwing them in the local landfills. So far there's no similar laws regarding cell phones. Leah - want people to volunteer / incentive for people to do so N8- Once collected at centers like this Staples in Hampton, the old cell phones find a new use. Leah - what happens with the phones N9- One problem with the computer and television monitor recycling business is where some of them end up. This footage was taken in Asia where recycled materials are sent, stripped of valuable metals and then rest of the product burned. Leah - how prevent that from happening with cell phones N10 - The next time you toss aside your outdated cell phone - think green. The EPA along with many local businesses are trying to make it easy to keep them out of the environment. Leah - future plans / hopes for the program. |
| Tag Cell Phone Return to index of stories... |
To learm more about the cell phone recyclying campaign and to find locations where you can drop off your old phone head to our website NHPTV.org/Outlook for a link to the E-P-A's site. |
| Thanks/Goodbye Return to index of stories... |
That does it for us. Thanks for watching New Hampshire Outlook. I'm Beth Carroll. I'll see you next time. |
| Web Promo Return to index of stories... |
VERSION ONE: Connect with us online. New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org/outlook. We've been streaming our programs since Outlook premiered in September 2000. Whether you want to watch this show again, email it to a friend, search and watch past programs or get more information on thousands of stories and topics, you'll find it all at nhptv.org/outlook. VERSION TWO: Connect with us online. New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org/outlook. VERSION THREE: Connect with us online. New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org/outlook. Whether you want to watch this show again, email it to a friend, search and watch past programs or get more information on thousands of stories and topics, you'll find it all on our website. |
| key: CRIME / LEGAL ISSUES / LAW ENFORCEMENT Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/2008 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 11:00 Now on NH Outlook: We'll take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire, where the goal is to help "clients" cope with mental illness and stay out of jail. A New Hampshire couple seeks a fresh financial start after going broke. We'll take a closer look at filing for bankruptcy. And later, what do you do with your old cell phone? Find out about a new push to recycle them. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. It seems like every week we learn of a serious crime committed by someone who's mentally ill. Department of Justice statistics should come as no surprise that one in six prisoners in the U-S suffers from a mental illness. New Hampshire courts report that number is even higher in the Granite State. Many have committed an offense while off medicaton or out of treament. When convicted, they serve their sentence only to commit another offense upon release. New Hampshire's court system wants to break that cycle. They've started mental health courts in three New Hampshire communities. Outlooks Richard Ager takes us inside the latest one to open in Rochester to see how it works. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Frank Laratonda\Director, Rochester Mental Health Court, Melissa Davis\Public Defender, Judy Rogers\Community Partners Mental Health Clinic, Mary\Client, Rochester Mental Health Court, Dan Cappiello\Judge, Rochester Mental Health Court, Carrie Lover\Court Coordinator, Dave Dubois\Chief, Rochester Police Dept., Jim Leary\Judge, Nashua Mental Health Court, John Broderick\Chief Justice, NH Supreme Court, Lynda\Graduate, Rochester Mental Health Court, Layne Lohr\Lynda's Attorney |
| key: ECONOMY Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/2008 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 8:00 Now on NH Outlook: We'll take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire, where the goal is to help "clients" cope with mental illness and stay out of jail. A New Hampshire couple seeks a fresh financial start after going broke. We'll take a closer look at filing for bankruptcy. And later, what do you do with your old cell phone? Find out about a new push to recycle them. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. New figures show the number of bankruptcy filings in New Hampshire skyrocketed in 2007. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court reports nearly 3-thousand filings in the Granite State last year -- that's up 56-percent from 2006. Two years ago when bankruptcy laws changed -- we brought you a story about filing for bankruptcy - as part of our Outlook on Money series. We thought this was a good time to revisit the story which featured a young Dover couple, drowning in debt, who turned to bankruptcy for relief. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Beth Carroll NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Josh Doucette\Dover, Melissa Doucette\Dover, Sandy Kuhn\Dir. of Bankruptcy Dept. |
| key:ENVIRONMENT Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/2008 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 4:00 Now on NH Outlook: We'll take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire, where the goal is to help "clients" cope with mental illness and stay out of jail. A New Hampshire couple seeks a fresh financial start after going broke. We'll take a closer look at filing for bankruptcy. And later, what do you do with your old cell phone? Find out about a new push to recycle them. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. Cell phone recycling is an "easy call." That's the slogan of the Environmental Protection Agency's new campaign to encourage all of us to recycle old cell phones. Outlook's Phil Vaughn has more on why recycling is so important. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Phil Vaughn NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Leah Bowe\Environmental Scientist, U.S. EPA New England, Cindy Jones\Lee, Gilles Gelineau\Stratham, Bob Conant\Rye |
| key: TECHNOLOGY Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/24/2008 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 4:00 Now on NH Outlook: We'll take you inside Mental Health Court in New Hampshire, where the goal is to help "clients" cope with mental illness and stay out of jail. A New Hampshire couple seeks a fresh financial start after going broke. We'll take a closer look at filing for bankruptcy. And later, what do you do with your old cell phone? Find out about a new push to recycle them. Hello, I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. Cell phone recycling is an "easy call." That's the slogan of the Environmental Protection Agency's new campaign to encourage all of us to recycle old cell phones. Outlook's Phil Vaughn has more on why recycling is so important. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Phil Vaughn NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Leah Bowe\Environmental Scientist, U.S. EPA New England, Cindy Jones\Lee, Gilles Gelineau\Stratham, Bob Conant\Rye |