Thank you to David Simpson of the AJC for following up on this story about Nafiza Ziyad, the mentally ill woman whose videotaped rant aboard a MARTA train received over 600,000 views on YouTube and became a viral sensation.
Ziyad, 25, is now living in a personal care home for the mentally ill. According to her attorney, she was jailed from May 8 on simple misdemeanor charges for verbally abusing an elderly MARTA passenger – until her release late Friday evening.
Ziyad must live at the facility in order to remain out of the DeKalb County jail on bond, defense attorney Derek Gage of the DeKalb County public defender’s office said Tuesday.
The name and location of the home were sealed in court records to protect Ziyad’s privacy.
The young woman who was diagnosed bipolar in 2003, was arrested at least 12 times in several counties over a 4 year period. But each time she was released back onto the streets without treatment.
“We’re not dealing with a criminal here,” said Mr. Gage, who showed remarkable insight and sensitivity to Ziyad’s plight. “We’re dealing with someone who’s mentally ill and doesn’t have the services available to her that she should have available to her because she is indigent.”
This is a shame because jail staff and a judge should have recognized that Ziyad was a danger to herself and to the public. This case illustrates the urgent need for additional funding and mental health staffing at County jails.
At the personal care home, Ziyad will be monitored to be sure she remains compliant with her medication, her lawyer said.
“She’s doing very well. She’s obviously extremely embarrassed about the fact that this video was so widely seen by so many people. But I think it’s also kind of become a stimulus for her to take a little more responsibility in her life,” Gage said.
Many thanks again to writer David Simpson for caring, and to loyal reader Shari for the link!
(Source)
