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Mentally Ill and Criminal Justice

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Mentally Ill and Criminal Justice
The mentally ill is over-represented in the criminal justice system when compared with the larger United States population. People with mental illness are incarcerated approximately 8 times more frequently than they are admitted to state mental hospitals, and are incarcerated for significantly longer time than other inmates (Ascher-Svanum, Nyhuis, Faries, Ball, & Kinon, 2010). This has been linked to an increased danger to themselves, other inmates and persons employed in the prison system. Effectively identifying and properly treating these individuals is crucial in creating a safer and more effective prison system. Currently there are approximately three times as many mentally ill in the prison system than in our mental health facilities (Fellner, 2007). As a presidential advisory commission in recent years reported, the mental health system is “in disarray.” It is fragmented, chronically underfunded, and rife with barriers to access, particularly in minority communities. As a result, too many people who need publically financed mental health services cannot obtain them until they are in an acute psychotic state and are found to be a danger to themselves or others (Fellner, 2007). This lack of availability and support is evident in significantly higher rates of mentally ill imprisonment in minority communities. Prison can be a dangerous place, especially for the mentally ill. Many mentally ill inmates are victimized by other inmates; we have increased rates of violence, mental breakdowns, and suicide in prison and jails (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2000). In addition, many of these inmates receive inappropriate kinds or amounts of psychotropic medication that further impairs their ability to function. The failure of mental health systems has led to what some have called the “criminalizing of the mentally ill” (Fellner, 2007). The mentally ill in our prisons have a diverse background, although overwhelming majorities of the mentally ill in prison


References: Ascher-Svanum, H., Nyhuis, A., Faries, D., Ball, D., & Kinon, B. (2010). Involvement in the US criminal justice system and cost implications for persons treated for schizophrenia. BMC Pychiatry. Bloom, J. D. (2010). 'The Incarceration Revolution '. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 38(4), 727-734. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.2010.00526.x Carey, K. (2009, July). A Recipe for Success: Community Mental Health and Criminal Justice. Criminal Justice Periodicals , pp. 28-29. Deferrari, N. (2010, Nov/Dec). Financial Impact of Housing the Mentally Ill. American Jails , 24 (5), p. 30. Fellner, J. (2007). A Corrections Quandry: Mental Illness and Prison Rules. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review , 41. Harvard Mental Health Letter. (2000). How Are Problems of Mental Illness Being Handled in the Prison System? Harvard Mental Health Letter . Harvard Mental Health Letter. (2005). The Homeless Mentally Ill. Harvard Mental Health Letter , 4-7.of Mental Illness Being Handled in the Prison System? Harvard Mental Health Letter . Robinson, L. (2010, April). DOJ Initiatives Focus on Correctinal Health Care. Corrections Today , 72 (2), p. 120.

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