Kady was grieving when she threatened to jump from a bridge - now she's been fined for delaying drivers
TW suicidal ideation, abuse of the justice system
Magistrates told Lee: "A community order is the recommendation and that is what we have decided on. Use this well to deal with your bereavement.
"This has caused a massive inconvenience to the public and no-one wants to be subject to this sort of inconvinience.
"You must move forward with your life. This sort of behaviour doesn’t cause anyone any good least of all you.
"Don't find yourself in breach of payments or not attending appointments with probation.
"If you do you will find yourself back in court and you don't want to be back here do you?"
Note from PDV!: Suicide has supposedly been decriminalised for many years, but when it comes to people diagnosed with a personality disorder often attempts on their life are not taken seriously. Being labelled as "attention seeking" and having successful attempts labelled "death by misadventure" in coroner reports. People who are diagnosed with a personality disorder can face the threat of prosecution for public nuisance or wasting police time. The magistrate is pretty much saying in no uncertain terms "your grief is a nuisance, you are a nuisance, get over it already or you will be punished."
As an abolitionist I don't believe in punitive justice for individuals, even for the worst of crimes punishment does nothing to address the cause of such crime and does not serve as any meaningful deterrent. Often the worst of crimes are given a light touch compared to the often defensive and survival actions of the marginalised--you need only to look at the statistics for rape and abuse convictions and the sentences given to see this.
What purpose does the fine possibly serve except to further demoralise and humiliate somebody who is suicidal? The only effect of criminalising and punishing suicidal actions serves is to ensure a person will not hesitate next time. It is cruel and a demonstration of just how punitive the approach to mental health care can be in the UK: "get over it, or else."
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