Case #3/Dying, death and bereavement in social work
Introduction
In this case we are presented with The Florida Project for Human Justice; a nonprofit agency in downtown Tallahassee that provides legal services to inmates pro-bono. Diane Epps, executive director/attorney and Joe Moran, lead attorney for the agency has invited their co-worker Cynthia Sanders, mitigation investigator to join them in working with one of their death row clients. ,
Elaborate more on the case
Problem Statement
The team of attorneys and mitigation investigator cannot agree on whether Mr. Aranda is competent enough to make the decision of waiving his death sentence appeal or if his rights to self-determination is being violated. It is important that the team is united in their decision in order to present a solid case to the presiding.
Very good problem statement
Contextual Analysis
The Florida Project for Human Justice is a nonprofit agency that primary mission is to represent death-sentenced inmates across the state who are appealing their sentences. The agency also advocates for clients with life sentences and for a change in state law to end the death penalty. They’re ultimate mission is to protect and sustain the lives of those on death row. The agency consists of a staff of seven with a high employee turner turn over. The work is stressful and they operate on a very limited budget. The agency is primarily devoted to appellate work and usually began providing services when the client is are on their second appeal which is the post conviction review. The executive director, the lead attorney and the mitigation investigator are currently providing services to a death row inmate involving some troubling, challenging and disturbing issues. The executive director and lead attorney has been involved with the case longer than the mitigation investigator,. The executive director and the lead attorney has developed trust with the client and have invested a lot of time with the client and the legal system. The client is Jose Aranda; a 34year old Hispanic male currently on death row for robbing and murdering a clerk at a pawn shop five years ago. Jose is a death row inmate at the Florida State Prison in Starke. He is housed in the Q wing reserved for the most violent criminals in Florida. Jose does not want his attorneys to appeal his sentence; he wants to waive his rights to appeal his death sentence. Mr. Aranda wants to waive his appeal due to the inhumane treatment and living conditions he endures. His attorney’s does not believe he is competent to make that decision because he’s been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Jose is also a believer in the ancient Mayan religion. He believes he is Chac; a Mayan god called the rain god. Jose believes when he dies, he will fall on the whole world as rain and bring peace and prosperity. Susan, the mitigation investigator however, believes they should possibly reconsider Jose’s request. After talking with Jose in prison face to face and observing him in court she feels Jose appeared adamant and sincere when sharing how he feels about the degrading and inhumane treatment he lives in. Susan has a strong psychiatric background, have worked with many schizophrenic people in jail and in mental hospitals. She questions Jose’s rights to self determination and is very concerned that they are not violating Jose’s rights.
You could add that Susan has her MSW? According to Jose he would rather die than to continue living like an animal. He equates the living conditions like living in hell. There is constant noise, he’s kept naked most of the time, he’s not allowed pictures, books or anything to read and the medication they give him makes him stiff and drool like a mad dog. Although there is a court order that Jose is not to be medicated against his will; at times he is forcefully medicated. Jose feels if he could get his appropriate medication, he could possibly fuddle through the conditions.
Add this paragraph with the one above Susan

The expressed disagreement between attorneys and investigator stems from their ethical views and a very thin line exists between the views. The disagreement must be resolved so that a solid case can be presented to the judge on the next competency hearing.
Very well stated
Alternative Strategies
1. Complete a mental health reassessment on Jose before the next competency hearing; assuring that Jose has been medication free for the past 30 days.
2. Explore the affects of isolation and inhumane treatment with paranoid schizophrenic individuals.
3. Explore the history of ancient Mayan religion and consider if Jose’s belief is possibly an escape from the inhumane conditions he lives in. I recommend strategy #1 because a re-evaluation of Jose’s mental state is necessary to determine his personal views and feelings without the affect of medication interfering with his thoughts and emotions.
Very good strategies