april 2023 NEWSLETTER

general NEWS:

Things are slow, but like the stock market, things will get better.

Giveaway website is finished. Download a FREE sample at: In the Matter of Edwin Potter

This month’s drawing:

march 2023 NEWSLETTER

general NEWS:

  • National suicide phone hotline 988 is not in service as yet—problems at this time.

  • NJ Governor Jim McGreevey’s organization NJ Reentry Corporation is having its annual conference on April 6, 2023, at 9 am at St. Peter’s U. They will be addressing training for the dignity of work. A good job, a long-term source of income, is critically necessary for long-term health, stability, and transformation. See my blog at www.davidegeiger.com.

  • “Voice of the Patient” Report was submitted to the FDA by Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance after the conference on November 2, 2022. This will change everything regarding medications for those with SMI. David Geiger was a panelist at that conference.

IMOEP NEWS:

  • David Geiger won the London Book Reviews Honoring Excellence Award (below).

This month’s drawing:

NOVEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

general NEWS:

  • National suicide phone hotline is now 988.

  • Word from Paul Webster regarding LA’s homeless:

“Hey David, sorry to ignore your first message.  The LA Alliance for Human Rights is in the process of settling its portion of its lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles.  In that settlement, the City has agreed to provide more shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness.  The challenge is that LA County has been very slow in working with us to settle our suit.  The County is the entity that provides treatment and services to those with mental illness and addiction.  We are still working with the County to formalize its role in the settlement. -PW”

  • Definitions of insanity and dangerousness are beginning to change. Psychiatric deterioration law is becoming the standard versus incurable.

  • FDA conference on making better drugs for those with SMI (Serious Mental Illness) was on November 2, 2022. I was a panelist. Here is the info:

“It streamed directly from this website: https://sczaction.org/insight-initiative/pfdd/ and the recording of the meeting is available on the same site. -Lauren Bloch, S&PAA”

  • Treatment Advocacy Center can provide you with information from around the nation. Here is their quarterly newsletter:

Take Action - Treatment Advocacy Center

IMOEP NEWS:

This month’s drawing:

OCTOBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

GENERAL NEWS:

  1. I was a part of a Zoomcast recording session in September with SPAA (Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance) to be used in their discussions with the FDA that could target new treatments for symptoms. Presently the FDA has no real information about what the symptoms are, who has them as well as where they live, and more. There will be two panels:

    a. Panel 1: Symptoms of schizophrenia and the impact of the condition on daily life.

    b. Panel 2: Current approaches to treating schizophrenia and priorities for future treatment.

    c. I will be on panel 1.

  2. SPAA has been chasing the FDA for this meeting for years, and now it is our turn. The meeting will take place on Nov. 2, 2022.

  3. Janet Hays, President of Healing Minds NOLA, succeeded in getting some legislation passed in Louisiana that would help those with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). The law now says that one with mental illness can be taken off the street before he hurts somebody.

IMOEP NEWS:

I sent a copy of IMOEP to NJ Governor Phil Murphy to help address schizophrenia in NJ. I have not heard yet. Sometimes these things take time.

My drawing continues to improve. This month’s drawing:

AUGUST 2022 NEWSLETTER

GENERAL NEWS:

More activity is developing in legislative areas that would help those with SMI stay out of prison and get medical treatment. See my blog at www.davidegeiger.com.

IMOEP NEWS:

Progress has been made on the various publications. 

  1. IMOEP paperback was edited according to the suggestions of a literary agent. This includes adding some information on the drawings and eliminating some information on the Table of Contents. All of this was to give the reader a more enjoyable experience.

  2. The 100-page screenplay is finished, edited, and finalized. At my request, we are now seeking to market it.

This month’s drawing:

JULY 2022 NEWSLETTER

GENERAL NEWS:

We are moving into action with various legislators to improve the plight of those with mental illness. See my blog at www.davidegeiger.com.

IMOEP NEWS:

  • I have some folks at work who are interested in IMOEP and bought the book. A growing number of people are taking an interest.

  • I have an opportunity to hire a literary agent to review IMOEP and make comments. I said no because it is too late for IMOEP. I may use his services for the next one.

  • The screenplay upgrade is due in about 2 weeks. I will review it when it is done.

This month’s drawing:

june 2022 NEWSLETTER

GENERAL NEWS:

I receive monthly newsletters from John Jay College Institute of Justice and Opportunity pertaining to the work being done there. It always circles about educating the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated. The goal is to get these guys jobs so that they stay out of prison. It is a practical measure because these guys are going to get out in three to five years, and the programs work! There is much to be said about the positive aspects of this both on my IMOEP site as well as on the Institute’s site. The result is that fewer people are returning to jail or prison.

IMOEP NEWS:

  • The press release was distributed to 100 media outlets.

  • The 100-page screenplay is still in the works.

This month’s drawing:

MAY 2022 NEWSLETTER

GENERAL NEWS:

IMOEP NEWS:

THIS MONTH’S DRAWING:

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com

Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com

IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos

IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

“This book is well-written. David Geiger has an explicit talent for linguistics and is exceptionally
smart. His personal story about mental illness is very interesting. He conveys his personal
experiences in a very raw and emotional manner. It's riveting throughout.”
–Daisy Bright, 5/5 stars on Goodreads

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He began writing about mental illness and criminal justice reform in May 1998. He writes about his illness in his book In the Matter of Edwin Potter as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.

APRIL 2022 NEWSLETTER

NEWS:

  • I am invited to the weekly White House Intergovernmental Affairs call where we are informed of what happened during the past week in the Biden Administration, for example, Russian aggression in Ukraine and what will be done about it, COVID-19: where we are now and what will be done about it, and so on. Our job is to spread the word.

  • I will attend a conference on combat trauma being held by New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) on April 14, 2022, from 9-4 (ET). Former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey is currently the Executive Director there. NJRC is a non-profit agency with a social mission to remove all barriers to employment for citizens returning from incarceration. This 7th Annual conference will be held at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City. See www.njreentry.org

  • May is Mental Illness Awareness month.

IMOEP NEWS:

  • A 100-page screenplay is presently being written based upon my book In the Matter of Edwin Potter: Mental Illness and Criminal Justice Reform. The first draft is due in early April 2022.

  • See my new Audio Promo! Hear the Written Word! (See website www.davidegeiger.com. Click on Videos.) I currently have 11,560 views on YouTube. Encourage your friends.

  • We’re still in a building boom! The website now has another new page: Newsletters. This is where I will be archiving old newsletters. Check it out!

  • More changes! After 6 years, the book IMOEP will have a facelift. It will have a new cover. The “Praises” section of the paperback will be found on page 3, making it easier to find in online previews. “What is the book about?” and “What is the take-away?” will both be on the back. These can also be found on the website in “About”. Stay tuned!

  • The goal of 300 Goodreads reviews was reached. Check them out through my website. Click on “Goodreads reviews.”

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com

Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com

IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos

IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

“This book is well-written. David Geiger has an explicit talent for linguistics and is exceptionally
smart. His personal story about mental illness is very interesting. He conveys his personal
experiences in a very raw and emotional manner. It's riveting throughout.”
–Daisy Bright, 5/5 stars on Goodreads

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He began writing about mental illness and criminal justice reform in May 1998. He writes about his illness in his book In the Matter of Edwin Potter as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.

 

 MARCH 2022 NEWSLETTER

IMOEP NEWS:

  • See my new Audio Promo! Hear the Written Word! (see website www.davidegeiger.com. Click on Videos.)

  • YouTube videos

    • Movie-type video trailer: 134,090 views

    • News-type video trailer: 5,224 views

  • Instagram video: 5,620 views

  • A 100-page screenplay is presently being written based upon my book In the Matter of Edwin Potter: Mental Illness and Criminal Justice Reform. The first draft is due in early April 2022.

  • A goal of over 300 Goodreads reviews is on its way to fulfillment. Check them out through my website. Click on “Goodreads reviews.”

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com
Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com
IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos
IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

“Particularly painful for me was reading what usually happens to mentally ill people at the hands of police when called for assistance and what happens to them when imprisoned. Our society has not come to grips with this disorder at all. Also, of note - it would cost society so much less in tax dollars to care for the mentally ill in hospitals than to keep them imprisoned. Costs about $50K a year per inmate in prisons. Frequently those needing treatment cannot be admitted to hospitals without their consent - but throwing them behind bars without treatment is what society does - and would anyone consent to that?”

—Madeleine Liu, 5/5 stars on Goodreads

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He began writing about mental illness and criminal justice reform in May 1998. He writes about his illness in his book In the Matter of Edwin Potter as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.

 FEBRUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

IMOEP NEWS:

  • Happy Valentine’s Day!

  • Bail reform: TV news refuses to admit or even say that education, mentoring, and drug rehabilitation bring the crime rate ‘way down. I wrote an article months ago saying that the breadwinner is usually the one put in jail leaving his family to suffer. The reason is that he is the one without a job and must turn to crime to support his family. When I visited the Bergen County Jail (NJ), I was told there are programs there: English and drug rehab. What happens with reform is that these guys do not finish their classes, and they are put back out on the streets again with no job skills, so they turn to crime again to support themselves. The hard decision is that they should stay in jail until their classes are finished. As a note, some people are opposed to bail reform because they make their money selling bail bonds. The news does not tell you that, either.

    From Linda Stalters, Founder and former President and CEO of SARDAA (now S&PAA), “One of the most important issues is appropriate comprehensive treatment and placement for individuals with serious neuro-psychiatric brain illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar I, psychosis). Without comprehensive treatment, they will continue to suffer, and the community will miss the opportunity for a citizen to contribute to the community in a meaningful way instead of costing the community in tragic ways.”

This month’s drawing:
This is a tracing from a book that I bought. It allows me to get a good feeling for how the hand moves.

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com
Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com
IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos
IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He began writing about mental illness and criminal justice reform in May 1998. He writes about his illness in his book In the Matter of Edwin Potter as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.

NOVEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

IMOEP NEWS:

When I began to write my book In the Matter of Edwin Potter, I knew I had no money and was not in a position of authority to do the experiments to prove my ideas. (See my blog at www.davidegeiger.com or Chapter 104, “Reducing Recidivism, “ in the book.) My biggest idea is, “The typical prison inmate does not have the skills necessary to succeed in accepted society. That is the problem. What do we do? We were still building prisons in the 1990s as the solution to crime. That did not work, as history has shown. I wrote in 1999 based upon my experience, that we need to teach them: reading, writing, arithmetic, social skills, job skills, language skills. They need mentors, housing, help with their substance abuse, and a change in the laws that keep them from taking part in society.” I had to depend on someone who had “deep pockets” and the authority and experience to start up a project like this. So, I looked around and wrote to a number of people in positions of authority, telling them directly that I needed somebody to test my ideas. These were primarily high-ranking public officials and Executive Directors. I confessed to being one with mental illness who is also involved with the law. I was expecting to never get my project off of the ground with lots of opportunity for complete and utter failure, but I tried anyway. There were a few who responded, and we are finding that my most important ideas (with an “s”) work! I am still in touch with those few, and we are advancing the development and proof of these ideas.

I am currently involved in finding a Production company for my screenplay which is based upon IMOEP. I have an agency helping me. Discussions are underway. Wish me luck.

UPDATES:

No word yet on the HIPPA privacy reform. From my source: “Comments have to be read and will be synthesized into recommendations for new policy, I believe. I recall reading somewhere that the process takes a year or so.”

This month’s drawings:

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com
Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com

IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos
IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He worked for Consolidated Edison in NYC for 20 years and won recognition and an award for his work there. He writes about his illness in the book as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.

OCTOBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

IMOEP NEWS:

We’re in a building boom! The website now has a new page: Videos. Check it out!

  • A screenplay draft has just been written based upon Part 1 (chapters 1-10) of IMOEP. We will see where it goes from here. Buy the book.

  • Another 50 reviews were just recently added to Goodreads for IMOEP. They are all glowing. Take a few minutes and read some of them.

UPDATE:

Paul Webster out in LA says no word yet on the appellate court decision regarding homelessness in LA. (See Hope Street Coalition Submits Amicus Brief — David E. Geiger Writes (davidegeiger.com))

This month’s drawing:

To read more articles, access David Geiger’s blog at www.davidegeiger.com

Read Goodreads reviews of In the Matter of Edwin Potter at www.davidegeiger.com

IMOEP YouTube and other videos at www.davidegeiger.com/videos

IMOEP is available at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and www.davidegeiger.com

David Geiger is a licensed and retired professional electrical engineer who spent 7 years in psychiatric hospitals and over 40 years since 1979 in the courts as a result of his schizophrenia. He worked for Consolidated Edison in NYC for 20 years and won recognition and an award for his work there. He writes about his illness in the book as well as those who have the illness and are caught up in the criminal legal system.