Title: Inside The Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center | Wisconsin Public Radio
Headings: Inside The Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center
Inside The Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center
Content: Sand Ridge research director David Thornton says there is also minority of patients who simply refuse treatment. “You'll have some individuals who essentially made the life choice that committing sex offenses and thinking about committing future sex offenses is a life that they enjoy better than what would be involved in the hard work of changing themselves and living in a law abiding way in the community,” said Thornton. Even the patients who don't cooperate with the therapy requirements have the same right to petition a court for release as those who do undergo treatment – but their likelihood of success is slim. One patient interviewed for this story did win a court battle for release without going through treatment. Thomas served 17 years in prison for sexual assault before being committed to Sand Ridge in 2004. During an interview before his release, Thomas voiced a concern many patients at Sand Ridge share: He says if a mental illness diagnosis is the trigger for commitment to the center, then men like him should have the option of getting outpatient treatment instead of being locked up. “Why not go to the mental health facility in your community, like Green Bay?” said Thomas. “ They have Brown County (Community Treatment Center) – why not then go in there?