Mental Health Court it is....

Dad was accepted into mental health court and will likely be released early next week to a group home with probation type stipulations such as being court ordered to take his medication and go before the judge regularly to show he is being compliant. This is literally my dad's last hope I fear, so I am trying to be positive but prepared. This situation is more structured than in the past, but ignoring history would be naive.

The Good:

Dad will not be on the street. He will have a roof over his head and people trying to make sure he is on his meds and safe. He will not be in jail anymore, which was never where my father belonged. 2 of the 3 charges will be dismissed as long as he is compliant with the plea arrangement.

The Bad:

My dad, whose homeless nomadic lifestyle has resulted in countless misdemeanor arrests, jail stays, and state hospital stays, is now a felon. Should he not comply with the courts by staying at his half way house in Lee County, taking his meds, and reporting to the courts as required, the deal is off and he will be returned to jail to face the original 3 felony charges. So unfortunate since he was psychotic and delusional when the crimes occurred and had no idea what he was even doing. In all of the years that my father roamed the country leading up to the instant offense in Fort Myers, he never displayed violent behavior. He would never hurt a fly, of that I am certain. Yes, he likely scared people and surely displayed bizarre behavior that of course could be perceived as threatening. I was terrified when I saw my father off his meds, although not of him.

The Ugly:

My dad has a history of taking off no matter what the circumstances (well, since his major break in 1999). When I got him transferred from the psychiatric hospital in Iowa to Columbus in 2006, he was ultimately released from the state hospital into an apartment that I got him near my own. I made sure he had a court appointed guardian in control of medical decisions and was his SSDI payee. I visited dad often but within a month or so, he was gone.  I was left with a trashed apartment and a broken, dejected heart. He came back and ended up being placed in a group home. With custody of Ian, then in middle school, I couldn’t risk my credit by signing for an apartment again. Again I visited often, but within the month he was off his meds and roaming the country again. He has been in other group homes as well with the same outcome. Because he has the threat of re-arrest hopefully he will stay put this time, but to be honest I would be absolutely shocked. He is paranoid of others and never does well in that type of setting. Plus I am not there to visit. No one is. I will do my best to be in touch and stress the ramifications should he choose to take off, but I am battling against a relentless disease: one that tells my dad not to take his meds. The voices start as whispers, but then get louder and louder until he is compelled to listen. Then the cycle begins again. But this time my dad will be a homeless felon with an active warrant. And he is 62, too old for the homeless lifestyle. I am so scared for him. I am scared for me. And what could happen. Hopefully, maybe, this time it will be different. I truly feel this is the last hope.

My father’s attorney said he had a great chance of successfully using the Insanity Defense and ultimately being found not guilty. That would have been my preference. But then he would’ve had to stay in jail for who knows how long until after the trial and would have probably been ordered into a hospital for an infinite amount of time. I can’t blame dad for wanting to be free, after more than 2 years in custody. Hopefully the outcome of mental health court will be better than what my instinct tells me. I want to be wrong….