A Michigan sheriff who pleaded for help for a mentally ill veteran who was housed in his jail has reported that the inmate is now receiving the help he needs. However, he said the “war is far from over.”
Chippewa County Sheriff Michael D. Bitnar posted a narrative to the sheriff’s office Facebook page on Friday, Feb. 7, describing an inmate with mental illness who his jail was not equipped to house.
Bitnar said the inmate was found to be incompetent to stand trial in December, but as of February, he was told a state bed at a mental institution won’t be available until June.
Bitnar called the mental health system in Michigan “broken” and called for help from the state.
On Thursday, Feb. 20, Bitnar announced on the sheriff’s office Facebook page that the inmate is no longer in his jail.
“This is a very positive outcome to a very sad and serious situation for staff and more importantly for him as he will now receive the help that he so desperately needs,” Bitnar said. “I would like to thank all of those who shared our original post and made those phone calls to Lansing. There is no doubt it is because of all of you that they somehow found a bed for him.”
Bitnar continued, saying that he still has three people who were found incompetent to stand trial still being housed in his facility, and added there are hundreds in sheriff-operated jails across Michigan.
“It seems we have won this battle but the war is far from over,” Bitnar said. “I would urge you to continue to fight for those in need of mental health treatment, I know I will.”
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Michigan sheriff pleads for help for mentally ill patient in his jail, calls system “broken”