Michael Tate

To:  The Governor, Representatives, DA, Attorney General and Senators of Colorado:

Michael Tate and his brother were removed from their mother’s care when Michael was only three years old. They were removed because of abuse.

Michael was likely sexually abused due to signs first seen while he was in foster care. He was placed in group homes and mental facilities where he was physically manhandled, isolated, placed in “quiet” rooms and strapped down. Michael hasn’t received an education in the system, which is in violation of his civil rights, nor has he ever received the proper treatment for his mental problems, in fact he was further damaged.

Doctors have diagnosed Michael with Schizoaffective disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Michael is overwhelmed with stimuli, can’t be touched; his attorney is the only one that can touch him and she must ask permission first. He can make a bowl of cereal if you place the bowl, cereal and milk in front of him otherwise he is lost. Many drugs and combinations of drugs have been tried on Michael unsuccessfully.

Michael’s 18th birthday was on Saturday July 15th. He was placed in the adult portion of where he’s been housed since he was 16 in Golden CO, on Sunday and placed on suicide watch by Monday. Michael is more of a threat to himself than to others. Michael’s first attempt at suicide was at the age of nine years old.

The attorneys defending Michael aren’t refuting the allegations of 1st degree murder that happened on November 8, 2004. They are wanting the DA to acknowledge Michael’s mental state and for him to be placed in the Colorado Mental Institute in Pueblo, where not only Michael will be safe and receive the treatment he’s been denied for years, but the general public will be safe as well. The general public needs to understand that when a person is placed in a facility with Michael’s disabilities he won’t be walking the street in a few months or even years.

Every adult in Michael’s life has failed him. The abuse excuse is used and allowed by all battered women in this country. Why not the children? Why do we look the other way when a child is abused but are ready to fight when it comes to a woman and give her a second chance?

While we all agree that anyone, including children should be punished when they commit crime, it is also important to remember that children are not mentally as developed as adults, therefore they deserve a chance to rehabilitate rather than spend the rest of their lives in an adult prison.

To those whom this petition is directed, WE ASK THAT you show compassion for Michael for it was we the adults, who failed him, we the adults who created him. Light a candle for Michael every Thursday night 7 p.m. CST until his trial on 9/25/06.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Michael Tate Petition to The Governor, Representatives, DA, Attorney General and Senators of Colorado: was created by and written by Vickie Hatton (vhatton@bellsouth.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

Send this to a friend