The Abandoned Man
"Nobody's Fault" in the North Coast Journal is a powerful and disturbing investigation into the death of James Lee Peters, a 25-year-old Native American who committed suicide in a California jail cell. Part of what makes this story impressive is that it was reported and written entirely by journalism students at Humboldt State University. What makes this investigation even more impressive is that the students completed it despite receiving no cooperation from Peters' family, friends and lawyers or from the mental health workers who were responsible for him and the jailers who incarcerated him. Undaunted, the students combed through court records, district attorney files and birth, death and autopsy reports to piece together the details of Peters' troubling life and death. Here they explain how Peters, who was mentally ill and mentally retarded, was trapped in the court and mental health system:
During the two years that preceded his death, Peters, whom doctors said was mentally unable to assist in his own defense, appeared in court 25 times. Five different defense attorneys represented him and he faced 10 different deputy district attorneys and three different judges. It seemed as if Peters was the hat that everyone would pass but no one would wear.
The inability to get Peters the help he so obviously needed frustrated Judge Wilson. Over the next 18 months, Wilson would repeatedly order Peter's attorneys to get him into a local treatment program or a state hospital only to be told that no place would take him.
The story includes this powerful quote from the local district attorney: "This community treats dogs better then the mentally ill." The students note that our nation's jail cells hold many people like Peters.
Chris Hoff, Karina Gonzalez, Matthew Barry, Matthew Hawk, Marc Kozachenko, Tatiana Cummings, Cassandra Hoisington, Melinda Spencer, Deunn Willis, Nicole Willens, Adrian Emery and Meghannraye Sutton worked on this project with the guidance of their professor, Marcy Burstiner. http://northcoastjournal.com/051508/cover0515.html