Woods, William E., executive vice president, National Association of Retail Young, Kenneth, director, Department of Legislation, American Federation of Page 4228 2541 2453 4224 LEGISLATION H.R., Subcommittee Working Draft, August 24, 1979..... 4852 H.R. 6915 as introduced (the bill reported by the Subcommittee on Criminal 5119 CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTOLOGISTS FOR REFORM ★ Citizens Commission on Human Rights Psychiatric Violations 11 lec. 1979 Suite # 216 755 Boylston Street Boston, Mass. 02116 (617)739-2200 Ext. 518 The Honorable Robert Crinan DEC 15 1979 RECO Con ress of the United States "ouse of Representatives ashington, B.C. 0315 Dear e resentative rinan: I would like to li hly comend you for your efforts ། ས as ex inion of the Cur group is most articularly interested in the Sentel tie you can see, sir, there is 'e & lo, to nine in this area. I ure you to re-examine your; rojosab in the 11it of not only current issues such as Messi crusets stile Senator backman's Lerin, s 1 n field of mental health, the oston St.te los, ital case decision and other e ... les it also the .ckgroud of this field. I ald, it I bay, ropose that the bill afted thus far does contin regressive measures the er in need of change. I feel our amendments would rovie these needed ca 1,2es. Taclosed is a state.ent made by Lee Gole: an, M. one of our dvisory ordem:ers, Cosition of C1 1.re, storpont of ell if Our recobended amerdments. I do no е NOI CHI Find the ting to exle and evaluate these. I have recently been liaising with Vern Countrymen, Pred king, Chairman of the fourth Congressional astric Commitee to form the criminal Code,ichared Cole, attorney in the Poston State Ros, ital Case, and many other concerned individuals and groups within and vithout the Commonwealth. here are any persons dissatisfied with the proposed bill and some of its repressive me sures. If I may be of service in furnis..ing you wit gecific instances of cases involving errors in judgement in the area of psychiatric testimony or any other data lease let me know. Very sincerely outs Leonard A.Ferrara II Massachusetts xecutive Director NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTOLOGISTS FOR REFORM Citizens Commission on Human Rights Psychiatric Violations Suite # 216 755 Boylston Street Boston, Mass. 02116 617 739-2200 Ext. 518 Regional Commission C.A. BRUSCH, M.D. JOSEPH DEVER, Esq. Notional Research Office National Advisory Board Psychiatrist MICHAEL KANANACK Attorney MICHAEL SMITH 2. Chemistry JOHN FRIEDBERG, M.D. DAVID JORDON Attorney RAY REYNOLDS Psychiatrist Enclosed please find the Citizens Commission on Human Right's latest position paper on the Criminal Code. I would appreciate any comments on our recommendations. As I've mentioned before, we would like to see the date of the hearings on the criminal code postponed till at least the first of October to give concerned groups and individuals sufficient time for preparation. Due to the far-reaching effects and importance of the Criminal Code, we also feel your Subcommittee should hold nation-wide hearings at separate locations so that all interested have the opportunity to testify. This position is supported by the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation, the American Friends Service Committee, the Civil Liberties Union of Mass., the American Civil Liberties Union, the Mass. Black Caucus, Mobilization for Survival, the Boston Coalition Against 5.1437, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Fred King of Harvard. Please let me know what you will do to ensure this occurs. With Best Regards, Judith 12. Lebel Judith R. Lebel, R.N. Assistant Director CRIMINAL CODE REFORM BEFORE CONGRESS AGAIN IN 1979 Criminal Code reform is again before the U.S. Congress in 1979. The Subcommittee on Criminal Justice of the House Judiciary Committee for the 96th Congress has been holding meetings concerning criminal code reform this year, and on July 13, 1979, their "Rough Working Draft" was released. In general, this draft represents a vast improvement over last year's S.1437 and its predecessor S.1. Although this document is only a draft, it represents some important issues which the Citizens Commission on Human Rights must take a position on at this time. SUBCOMMITTEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVISIONS CCHR is now, and has been for the last four years, majorly concerned with the sections of the code dealing with mental competency to stand trial, mental examinations of defendants, the insanity defense, and commitment of defendants due to insanity. There have been steady improvements in these sections since the first draft of S.1; and the final draft of S.1437 and the version released July 13, 1979 by Congressman Drinan's Subcommittee on Criminal Justice represent the two most significant improvements. We would like to commend the Drinan subcommittee for its efforts on these sections and |