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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 22, 2004 Ashland Y bans Hazel Center clients Seriously mentally ill residents claim discrimination; YMCA officials say they’re concerned for other members’ safety By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Citing worries over public safety, Ashland Family YMCA officials have banned a dozen seriously mentally ill people, including six criminals, from using the fitness center. Caretakers for the clients claim the move is unwarranted discrimination. For three weeks, residents of Ashland’s Hazel Center, formerly known as the Jackson House, have not been allowed to use their purchased memberships, YMCA Board President Laurie Gibbs confirmed Tuesday. The ban was imposed while the YMCA investigated the residents of the lock-down center opened in June by Jackson County. The issue was raised by a neighbor who lives near the center at 330 Maple St. and recognized a client at the Y. No specific incident sparked the concern, officials said, but YMCA leaders said they wanted to be cautious. Advertisement "We don’t exclude people with mental disabilities at all," Gibbs said. "The main concern is that there are so many kids that are under our protection, we wanted to be very careful." Clients of the Hazel Center include six people convicted of felonies ranging from assault and kidnapping to sex abuse, sodomy and attempted murder, as well as six civilly committed individuals. The criminal clients have been granted conditional release from the state mental hospital by the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board. But directors of the Hazel Center said two clients who have committed sex crimes are prohibited by law from being in a place where children are present and are not allowed to go to the YMCA. They exercise instead at the adult pool at Jackson Hot Springs, said Andrew Axer, clinical director. The remaining clients, criminals and non-criminals alike, have been allowed to attend the YMCA accompanied by staff members. Revoking their memberships without cause is unfair, said Hank Collins, county health director. "It angered me," he said. "It’s yet another example of these people being discriminated against because of their mental illness." Becky Martin, the county’s mental health director, said PSRB clients living in Medford have used the Rogue Valley Family YMCA for years. The Ashland YMCA does not screen its entire membership for criminal backgrounds, Gibbs acknowledged. She added that no sex offender would be allowed to use the facilities. She said the YMCA imposed the ban until the agency could gather more information about the clients and decide what to do next. Meanwhile, one of the Hazel Center clients contacted Kathy Wilde, a lawyer for the Oregon Advocacy Center, which often represents mentally ill people enrolled in state programs. Wilde said she’s discussed the situation with lawyers from the YMCA. "We’re hopeful we can get it resolved between now and the end of the week," Wilde said. "My goal is to try and get folks back into the YMCA as soon as possible." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers