Friday, January 01, 2010
Widow Fighting To Change Ky. Law
KENTUCKY....
Jennifer Thacker, the surviving widow of Kentucky Alcohol Beverage Control officer Brandon Thacker of Louisville, heads the national group Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS). In 1999, a jury found Timothy Doyle guilty but mentally ill of manslaughter in the April 1998 death of her 27 year old husband. Less than 12 years later, Doyle is a free man after being released from prison Monday, and, even though a jury found him mentally ill, he won't be required to seek treatment. Jennifer Thacker says that puts the public at risk. Under Kentucky law, an inmate released on probation, parole or some other conditional release can be required to get treatment for mental illness, but inmates like Doyle who are considered to have served their time are no longer required to do anything. Thacker believes, as in some other states, when someone's found guilty but mentally ill, then there should be follow up for the rest of their life after they're released from prison. Thacker is researching Kentucky's law and laws in other states as part of an effort to have the state's law changed.
Jennifer Thacker, the surviving widow of Kentucky Alcohol Beverage Control officer Brandon Thacker of Louisville, heads the national group Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS). In 1999, a jury found Timothy Doyle guilty but mentally ill of manslaughter in the April 1998 death of her 27 year old husband. Less than 12 years later, Doyle is a free man after being released from prison Monday, and, even though a jury found him mentally ill, he won't be required to seek treatment. Jennifer Thacker says that puts the public at risk. Under Kentucky law, an inmate released on probation, parole or some other conditional release can be required to get treatment for mental illness, but inmates like Doyle who are considered to have served their time are no longer required to do anything. Thacker believes, as in some other states, when someone's found guilty but mentally ill, then there should be follow up for the rest of their life after they're released from prison. Thacker is researching Kentucky's law and laws in other states as part of an effort to have the state's law changed.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:01 AM 
