by Gail Noble
P
Pamela is an African-American woman in her late thirties who spent most of her adult life locked in a mental institution. Initially, Pamela was charged with two felonies, and was advised by her attorney to take an insanity plea, which she did and was placed in a state mental hospital. If she had fought and lost at trial, she would have served a likely four year sentence according to her current attorney. Instead, she has served 17 years, with no sign of release in sight, meaning she could spend the rest of her life locked up in a mental hospital. Rosie, Pamela’s mother, heard about DeBug from a friend and they both came to an ACJP meeting one Sunday afternoon. At our meetings, we write the names of the people we are here for on a board and go through the list. Pamela’s name was next on the white board, and when called, her mother Rosie told us Pamela’s story. Rosie had been fighting and hoping for Pamela’s release alone for 17 years. I offered to work with Rosie. I contacted the supervisor of the San Mateo County Private Defender’s Office, introduced myself, and told her I was with De-Bug and Pamela’s mother had came to us for support. The supervisor was familiar with De-Bug and Pamela’s case. She gave me her attorney’s contact information. I contacted him to let him know that Rosie had came to De-Bug for support and my plans were to go and meet Pamela and to see if Rosie and I could
attend an upcoming annual evaluation. He gave me the updated version of Pamela’s case and I offered to assist him with her case in any way I could. Pamela was due for a yearly evaluation by the hospital, and this report is given to the District Attorney’s Office, who in turn would put forward a recommendation to the court. This process happened every two years, and Pamela was always recommended to stay in a closed unit, and could never move towards freedom based on the opinions of the doctors and District Attorney’s Office. For years, Pamela was being held in a closed, locked facility, with little privileges or freedoms. If she could get into an open unit, she could eventually transition into an independent residential living situation that would assist in employment training, allow her to leave at her free will, and essentially get back into society. I suggested as a next step to meet Pamela and her doctors. Pamela gave authorization for her mother and I to attend her yearly evaluation. It was a hot day in July. It would be my first time meeting Pamela. I picked up Rosie and we were on our way. The ride took at least two hours from San Jose to Napa. Once I saw the place, the reality hit me that this is where Pamela had been for 17 years, and where her mother had made so many trips up here to visit her - alone. I could only imagine how hard it must have been to
Once I saw the place (Napa State Mental Hospital), the reality hit that this is where Pamela has been locked away for 17 years.