Judge Gives Health A Month To Transfer Prisoner Held in Father’s Death

A Superior Court Judge ordered Health Department officials Wednesday to come up with a plan to place Mohammed H. Salem, accused of killing his father, at the John Bell Correctional Facility in an appropriate treatment program within the next 30 days.

Superior Court Judge Denise Francois also ordered that Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion receive notice of the court’s order.

Failure to do so will lead to a show-cause hearing and compel Encarnacion to explain in court why the transfer did not occur, the judge said. “The court is asking what progress is being made by the Department of Health in transferring Mr. Salem to an appropriate facility,” Francois said.

Two Health officials appearing Wednesday said they could not predict compliance. When asked whether they believed their agency would complete the transfer within the designated time frame, Dr. Rolinda McCarthy said, “Unfortunately, no.”

McCarthy added that money matters may factor into any failure to carry out the court’s order within the next 30 days.