Real Talk From the Cell Block: Prisons Needs Better Mental Health Care

More programming and classes could help with violence and anger management at my prison.

by Scotty Scott January 28, 2025

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Real Talk From the Cell Block: Prisons Needs Better Mental Health Care

by Scotty Scott, Prison Journalism Project
January 28, 2025

<h1>Real Talk From the Cell Block: Prisons Needs Better Mental Health Care</h1>
<p class="byline">by Scotty Scott, Prison Journalism Project <br />January 28, 2025</p>

<p>As I peer out my cell door window, I think about the violence that has surrounded me over the 22 years I have been incarcerated.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I have experienced too many outbursts from others because they were having paranoid thoughts and could not or would not get help. One time, there was a person who stared out the cell door window all day, every day, for at least a month and a half, cursing and swearing at his invisible demons. One day he attacked me.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What we need more than ever is funding for anger management and violence prevention classes. We need real talk, real questions, real answers and real solutions. I think about these things as I stare out my cell door window.</p>
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As I peer out my cell door window, I think about the violence that has surrounded me over the 22 years I have been incarcerated.

I have experienced too many outbursts from others because they were having paranoid thoughts and could not or would not get help. One time, there was a person who stared out the cell door window all day, every day, for at least a month and a half, cursing and swearing at his invisible demons. One day he attacked me.

What we need more than ever is funding for anger management and violence prevention classes. We need real talk, real questions, real answers and real solutions. I think about these things as I stare out my cell door window.

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Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Tagged: California, Mental Health, Page One

Scotty Scott

Scotty Scott is an artist incarcerated in California.

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