Letter Writing Suggestions:

You can use this format to write a personal letter to show your concern for the Detainees in Coalinga Hospital. If you can, try to personalize this letter as you might write it so that it to distinguish it from the rest. See the list below for ideas of other possible concerns you may way wish to express to the Directors. Also, don't be discouraged if you don't get through to them on the first attempt and don't hesitate to communicate your concerns through letters, phone calls and emails (preferably, all three).

Please Note: Under privacy regulations, the Hospital is forbidden from discussing patient information until you have contacted your friend or family member and a release of Patient Information form is signed by them. Therefore, have them fill out and submit a CSH Release Form No. DMH 5671, REV. 3/04 granting you access to their records.

SAMPLE LETTERS TO COALINGA STATE HOSPITAL: (You can highlight and copy all text below (CTL+C) and then paste (CTL+V) into Word or some other text program (

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Date]

Mr. Norman Kramer, Executive Director

Coalinga State Hospital

24511 West Jayne Avenue

P.O. Box 5000

Coalinga, CA 93210-5000

Dear Mr. Kramer,

I am a [friend, parent, brother, etc.] of (name of patient), who is a patient at Coalinga State Hospital. I have received some news about problems in your facility and am very concerned. I want assurance that he is receiving fair evaluations and proper treatment.

In addition to my questions about the medical care he receives, I would also like to confirm that his legal and civil rights are being upheld. I would like to schedule a conference with you and tour your facility to help answer my questions and allay my concerns.

Sincerely,

[Name

Address

Phone

Email]

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

to send this message by email or to call Norm Kramer on the phone:

Tel: (559) 935-4300

Email: nkramer@dmh.ca.gov (this is unverified but you can try it)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stephen W. Mayberg, Ph.D. Director,

California Department of Mental Health

1600 9th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Sacramento, CA

Dear Mr. Mayberg,

I am a [friend, parent, brother, etc.] of [name of Detainee], who is a patient at Coalinga State Hospital. I have received some news about problems in your facility and am very concerned. I want assurance that he is receiving fair evaluations and proper treatment.

In addition to my questions about the medical care he receives, I would also like to confirm that his legal and civil rights are being upheld. I would like to schedule a conference with you, either in person or by telephone, and tour the Coalinga facility to help answer my questions and allay my concerns.

Sincerely,

[Name, Address, Phone, Email]

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

to send this message by email or to call Steven Mayberg on the phone:

Email: stephen.mayberg@dmh.ca.gov

Tel: (916) 654-2309

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Areas of Concern that you may wish to convey in your letters to Kramer and Mayberg:

• Lack of Professionally Administered Diagnostic Tests and Assessments
• Detainee rules for conduct and rights of appeal are in violation of their civil liberties under the law.
• Staff are not held to a standard of accountability and are allowed to make arbitrary, capricious and inconsistent rules.
• Staff or Police assault on Detainees and other misconduct or abuse.
• Insufficient contact between Patients and yourself due to visiting restrictions and lack of telephones.
• Lack of exercise opportunities.
• Problems sending and receiving mail. Mail is frequently lost or unlawfully opened.
• Ridiculous package restrictions and inability to easily send shoes, medical necessities and many other items that they should be able to have and that pose no threat to the safety and security of the institution.
• Inability to send books directly from publishers or legitimate vendors (why must these items be purchased from only two administration-selected vendors who also have a very limited selection?). Neither of these vendors have a reasonable selection of titles. -One of them sells only Christian-themed books while the other only sells unpopular remainders.
• Censorship. If books, movies and games are legal and allowed in the community at large and even in prison, why is it that Civil -Detainees (who, after all, are not be held for reasons of "punishment") are not allowed these same titles?
• Money sent to or from Detainees is frequently lost or delayed. A system of conservatorship is unlawfully imposed on Detainees.
• Educational and treatment materials are frequently prevented from reaching Detainees.