On Thursday December 2, 2010 your morning news team reported a story about a shooting in Wilmington, MA. [letter continues below citation]
[From WHDH online story]
“He has been known to us. He’s had some difficulties with mental illness in the recent past,” said Chief Michael Begonis of the Wilmington Police Department.
[Wilmington Police DepartmentWilmington Police Department
1 Adelaide Street
Wilmington, MA 01887-2768
(978) 658-5071
EMAIL: <info (at) wpd.org>]
http://www1.whdh.com/news/
SWAT situation 'all clear' in Wilmington, suspect dead
At about 6:30 AM on Thursday December 2, 2010 I called to WHDH-TV newsroom, and spoke with a young man who identified himself as the assignment editor. I asked him why the on air anchor (Adam Williams) said at the end of this story that the man had a history of mental illness. Your online story quotes the Police Chief. Is he a psychiatrist? How reliable are allegations of mental illness from relatives, police, neighbors, lovers and friends which journalists report? If it comes from a medical professional it is a violation of law. So why are the allegations reported? Revealing medical records is a violation of state and US laws. I asked your editor why the anchor said that. I said it is like saying that a person committed a crime because he was black. Your editor replied being black is not a cause of crime. I said it was the same with mental illness. I said if mental illness causes crime why not arrest all persons accused of mental illness? He said some mental illnesses did cause violence. I asked which ones did. He was unable to name one. But even if he could how did he know what mental illness the man in Wilmington had? He did not know that.
I said that his opinion was a Medieval stereotype about mental illness. He told me he did not have time to discuss this and hung up.
On previous occasions I inquired why journalists reported on allegations of mental illness at arraignments which happen often. The journalist told me that the prosecutor revealed it in court. I asked why the journalist reported what the prosecutor said. I got no rational answer. I then spoke with a prosecutor about this repeated occurrence. The prosecutor told me that he revealed that because the defendant could use psychiatry as a defense. In the Wilmington case the man was dead so it was not because of use as a defense, is it. Most defendants meet the attorneys the first time at their arraignments.The defense must reveal the defense before trial, but not at the arraignment.
Using the phrase "history of mental illness" suggesting it is a cause of crime or violence is a slur on all persons accused of mental illness. I am aware of the awful attitudes of police, lawyers, and politicians toward persons with disabilities. It is shameful that it is as pervasive among journalists too.
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