Hey fragile, there was a question on the last thread. Lots of buzz about whether JA was drugged. Can they drug inmates during trials? Is that even something that is done?
Prisons are a whole other ball of wax with different rules for their psych units than what I am used to working with. Many rules are the same...but with special considerations for the population. Psych patients will be prescribed drugs if their conditions call for it. I do know that very severely mentally ill patients are in the psych unit and will show up at their trials on heavy drugs, ala Andrea Yates, Jared Loughner, and James Holmes...all of whom you can tell were on pretty heavy stuff from pics taken during their trials.
Now, Jodi isn't SMI. Going through a trial is very nerve-wracking and stress inducing and it is possible that a tranq could help someone get through it. Will it be prescribed? I don't honestly know. Jails/prisons have a legal obligation towards the SMI, but not necessarily toward GMH, or general mental health...which is any condition that is not considered debilitating enough to qualify for SMI status. This much I know from former inmates in both counties who have come through one of my jobs.
More than likely it will fully depend on the doctor doing the assessment and the governing rules of the sheriff, the warden, the county.
Would they give her antidepressants or tranqs? It is possible, but without knowing the specific rules I can't say for sure if this is what is going on.
In my uneducated opinion she does NOT seem drugged to me. I cracked up when someone mentioned she was "thorazined out." Um...if she was "thorazined out" she'd be sleeping or looking like James Holmes. That's old school heavy duty stuff....been around as long as Haldol. To me it seems that she is just same as she always has...I have seen ZERO change. Of course one can be on meds and it wouldn't be obvious to others too though....so of course, again, it is all only my opinion, and an uneducated unverified one at that. If she is on something, it isn't heavy duty at all.
Pensfan might know more and be able to shed light on the process...since she is a verified psych nurse.
