🛡️ Shield alert for Jake Howeth
MindFreedom International (MFI) recently put out a Shield alert for Jake Howeth, a young man with mental health issues in Portland, Oregon. Jake voluntarily admitted himself to inpatient psychiatric facilities and is now being coerced to undergo involuntary injections of the antipsychotic risperidone (Risperdal) in order to be discharged from Multnomah Crisis and Treatment Center (CATC).
MFI reports that Jake hasn’t committed any crime, isn’t violent, isn’t a danger to himself or others, and had been living peaceably in his community for years before this. With his next injection scheduled for June 5th, MFI urgently requests that people contact Jake’s outpatient psychiatrist Erick Turner and inpatient psychiatrist Lyle Jobe. MFI requests that people ask for Jake’s release to a less restrictive setting, to stop the forced injections, and to allow Jake a voluntary treatment plan (not AOT).
Below is a copy of an email message I sent to doctors Turner and Jobe.
Subject: Urgent Request to Reconsider Forced Injections for Jake Howeth at Multnomah CATC
CC: local reporters, MindFreedom, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Dear Drs. Erick Turner and Lyle Jobe:
I am writing to express deep concern regarding the planned forced administration of psychiatric medications to Jake Howeth at Multnomah CATC, as highlighted by MindFreedom’s recent alert [1]. I respectfully urge you to reconsider this approach, prioritizing Jake’s autonomy, dignity, and well-being by exploring voluntary, evidence-based alternatives that align with trauma-informed care and civil rights principles.
Forced psychiatric interventions, such as involuntary injections, lack robust evidence of superior efficacy compared to voluntary, community-based treatments. Research indicates that involuntary commitment can increase suicide risk post-discharge [2] and deter individuals, particularly youth, from disclosing mental health concerns [3]. These interventions may also exacerbate trauma, especially for individuals like Jake, who may have experienced prior coercion or institutional harm. The Center for Court Innovation emphasizes that therapeutic outcomes depend more on empathetic engagement, goal consensus, and alliance than on coercive measures like legal leverage [4].
Instead of forced injections, I urge you to consider voluntary, community-based services that have proven effective in reducing hospitalization and incarceration while promoting recovery. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) has been shown to significantly reduce jail days and new convictions in a forensic ACT study [5]. Supported housing stabilizes individuals, reducing incarceration rates by up to 50% in some studies [6]. Peer support services, delivered by individuals with lived experience, enhance care for individuals struggling with severe mental and substance use disorders, diverting 24% of participants from hospitalization and 37% from jail in one program [7]. These approaches respect individual autonomy and align with the Supreme Court’s Olmstead v. L.C. decision, which deems unnecessary institutionalization discriminatory under the Americans with Disabilities Act [8].
Moreover, forced interventions disproportionately harm marginalized communities, including Black and Brown individuals, who face overrepresentation in coercive mental health settings [9]. While Jake’s demographic details are not specified, the broader pattern underscores the need for equitable, non-coercive care. Programs like CAHOOTS in Eugene demonstrate that unarmed mental health teams, including peers, can de-escalate crises without law enforcement, saving millions in public safety costs [10].
I respectfully request that you halt plans for forced injections and engage Jake in a collaborative treatment plan, emphasizing voluntary services, peer support, and trauma-informed care. Such an approach not only respects Jake’s rights but also aligns with evidence showing better long-term outcomes through empathy and alliance [4]. Please feel free to contact MindFreedom to discuss this further or to connect with resources on evidence-based alternatives.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Chris
Christopher James Dubey
Newington, CT
psychiatric survivor, writer, activist, independent scholar
Written with AI assistance by Grok.
References
1. Smith S. Protect Jake Howeth from Forced Injections at CATC in Portland Oregon! [Internet]. MindFreedom International (MFI). 2025 [cited 2025 May 28]. Available from: https://mindfreedom.org/front-page/protect-jake-howeth-from-forced-injections-at-catc-in-portland-oregon/
2. Jordan JT, McNiel DE. Perceived Coercion During Admission Into Psychiatric Hospitalization Increases Risk of Suicide Attempts After Discharge. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2020 Feb 4;50(1):180–8. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sltb.12560
3. Jones N, Gius BK, Shields M, Collings S, Rosen C, Munson M. Investigating the impact of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization on youth and young adult trust and help-seeking in pathways to care. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2021 Nov 1;56(11):2017–27. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-021-02048-2
4. Adler J, Barrett J, Rempel M. The Myth of Legal Leverage? Toward a Relational Framework for Court-Based Treatment [Internet]. Center for Court Innovation; 2020 Apr p. 3. (Mental Health Issues & the New York State Courts 2020: Part 1: Bail Reform; Part 2: Neurodevelopmental Disorders). Available from: https://www.innovatingjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/report_the_myth_of_legal_leverage_04232020.pdf
5. Lamberti JS, Weisman RL, Cerulli C, Williams GC, Jacobowitz DB, Mueser KT, et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Rochester Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Model. Psychiatr Serv. 2017 Oct;68(10):1016–24. Available from: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201600329
6. Fairmount Ventures, Inc. Evaluation of Pathways to Housing PA [Internet]. Philadelphia, PA; 2011 Jan p. 47. Available from: https://pathwaystohousingpa.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2022-04/Fairmount%20Ventures%20evaluation%202011.pdf
7. National Association of Counties. Supporting people with mental illnesses in the community [Internet]. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro, KY; 2018 p. 2. Available from: https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/documents/SAMHSA%20Case%20Study%20Louisville-Jefferson%20Final.pdf
8. Olmstead v. L. C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999) [Internet]. 1999 [cited 2025 May 29]. Available from: https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep527/usrep527581/usrep527581.pdf
9. Legal Defense Fund, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Advancing An Alternative to Police: Community-Based Services for Black People with Mental Illness [Internet]. 2022 Jul p. 27. Available from: https://d252ac.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022.07.06-LDF-Bazelon-Brief-re-Alternative-to-Policing-Black-People-with-Mental-Illness.pdf
10. Andrew S. This town of 170,000 replaced some cops with medics and mental health workers. It’s worked for over 30 years [Internet]. CNN. 2020 [cited 2025 May 29]. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/05/us/cahoots-replace-police-mental-health-trnd
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