It was shocking news last week to hear of the death of a mother, allegedly killed by her own son in Langdale. But equally appalling, to me, was the discovery that there was no space available for the accused man at the Forensic Psychiatric Institute (FPI).When Raymond Irwin appeared in court Feb. 9, charged with the first-degree murder of his mother, he was a pitiful figure, calling himself King Richard as he rambled on about nuclear holocaust, vampirism and the Book of Revelations. Irwin's need for psychiatric care was so obvious that his defense lawyer agreed Irwin should go to FPI for assessment, adding there was no reason to present further evidence about Irwin's mental state.The (FPI) is a secure psychiatric hospital in Port Coquitlam, the only place in B.C.'s corrections system where mentally ill prisoners can be evaluated and treated. Like hospitals and mental health facilities throughout the province, FPI is plagued by a lack of space and long waiting lists.That chronic lack of space becomes news only when a high-profile crime results, as in the case of David Trott, a mentally ill man who was released from jail in 2001 without a psychiatric assessment from the over-booked FPI, then was charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl a few days later. The judge in that case spoke out, saying it is commonplace for court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and treatment to be delayed.Last week, Sechelt provincial court judge Dan Moon spoke out as well, insisting that Irwin should go to FPI immediately and not be left in regular jail. When FPI put Irwin 13th on its waiting list, Moon would not accept that decision. He requested a special court hearing where a representative of FPI would have to explain why Irwin could not be admitted at once. Under pressure from the judge, FPI finally found a bed for Irwin a week after his arrest.Moon deserves full credit for making sure this man got psychiatric care quickly. But I can't help wondering what is happening to the other 12 prisoners on the waiting list whom FPI judged to be more in need of care than Irwin. If they are in worse shape than a wildly irrational man accused of matricide, then they also need psychiatric care at once. The concerns with keeping severely mentally ill prisoners in mainstream jails include suicide risk for the prisoner as well as dangers to other prisoners and guards.Of course, providing that care costs the government money, which means the waiting list at FPI isn't likely to get shorter any time soon. It will probably take a major tragedy to force a change in this troubling situation.
