Death in Jail

* Re “Drug Addict Kills Self in Van Nuys Jail,” June 26.

I am writing to protest in the strongest terms the death of Kathleen Barkley in the Van Nuys jail.

As a scientist (PhD, biochemistry, Tulane University), and as a former treatment administrator, I can unequivocally state that professional medicine clearly understands the heroin withdrawal state and has developed a number of procedures to quickly and humanely assist these tortured souls. We could argue all day as to why Kathleen was hooked, but the point is she was never perceived as a patient, just a junkie crying wolf. Kathleen, to the medical system and the criminal justice system, was trash, not a human being.

Was anyone at her funeral? I doubt it. Does the LAPD accept responsibility for her death? I doubt it.

Times are troubled, and the number of Kathleen Barkleys is rising. Should they all die? What if they’re your sister, your daughter, your wife? We cannot deny humanity; we must not deny humanity. We must rehabilitate the Kathleen Barkleys.

Presumed innocent, Kathleen Barkley [choked] to death while we all watched, her pleas of help cut off by a wall of prejudice.

JAY R. CAVANAUGH

Van Nuys