THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 27, 1994 TAG: 9406270088
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: 940627 LENGTH: PETERSBURG
The changes follow the April 23 escape of John T. Midgette, who was found innocent by reason of insanity for killing his boss in Chesapeake. He was captured five weeks later in North Carolina.
{REST} Midgette's escape ``served as a wake-up call to speed up the process that was already in place,'' said Timothy A. Kelly, the new state commissioner for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services.
A departmental review included about 50 recommendations for improvements at the hospital's forensic unit.
The unit includes those who have been committed for evaluation while being held on criminal charges or who have been found innocent of crimes by reason of insanity. At mental health facilities statewide, 184 patients are being held ``by reason of insanity.'' Of that number, 116 are at Central State.
Capt. William Dugger, a top-ranking Department of Corrections officer, has been temporarily assigned to head security at the forensic unit, beginning efforts to improve levels of experience and knowledge needed for security at the hospital, Kelly said.
In what could be a permanent move, all privileges for patients in the forensic unit have come to a halt.
Midgette's escape occurred while he was permitted to walk unescorted to his job at Central State's canteen. He showed no signs of being an escape risk, hospital officials said. Some privileges often were given patients to test their readiness for release and help prepare them to re-enter the outside world.
``That whole policy is under review,'' Kelly said.
Stricter screening of visitors to the forensic unit for weapons and contraband also has been enacted, he said.
Remedial measures include recent disciplinary actions against six employees that ranged from counseling to termination, Kelly said.
In a broader response to security worries, the state Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services will convene a group in mid-July to look at long-term solutions for public safety problems at Central State and other state mental health facilities.
The group will include representatives from the attorney general's office and corrections and state police officials.
Outraged by the escape and the threat posed by Midgette, Gov. George F. Allen ordered his own investigation of security policies and procedures at Central State by Secretary of Health and Human Service Kay James and Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore. Attorney General James S. Gilmore III also was asked to study legal implications of additional restrictions that could be applied to those claiming the insanity defense.
Kelly said long-term answers to security will have to strike a balance between ensuring public safety and protecting patients' rights.
Classifying forensic patients could be the biggest problem, he said.
``The real issue is `not guilty by reason of insanity,' '' Kelly said. ``The state is charged with managing this subpopulation within the mental health system. But is this where they belong? Perhaps they could be housed in a more secure environment in the state penal system.''
by CNB