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Mental health in prison essay
Mental health in prison essay
Mental health in prison essay
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Their are around 500,000 mentally ill people that are put away in prisons and jails. In the documentary “The New Asylums”,Ohio's state prison system reveals the issues that are ongoing with mentally ill inmates. The major problem we have today is that no one is taking care of the people of these people. Most mentally ill people live by themselves with no family or friends to take care of them and they are off their medications. The mentally ill come in to prison on non violent offenses such as disturbing the peace, trespassing, etc. After leaving mental hospitals they usually end up on the streets and become homeless.
The shift is attributed to the unexpected clinical needs of this new outpatient population, the inability of community mental health centers to meet these needs, and the changes in mental health laws (Pollack & Feldman, 2003). Thousands of mentally ill people flowing in and out of the nation 's jails and prisons. In many cases, it has placed the mentally ill right back where they started locked up in facilities, but these jail and prison facilities are ill-equipped to properly treat and help them. In 2006 the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimated that there were; 705,600 mentally ill inmates in state prisons, 78,000 in federal prisons, and
Also, the correctional facilities help inmates with mental illness
Fortunately, there might be some “more human” alternatives, however things still look bleak. One way of dealing with troubled inmates is to send them to an “internal clinic where psychiatrists will administer treatment and medicine, and the less seriously mentally
Mental Health has been a hot topic for many years. There have been many programs and laws put into place so that the mentally ill can get the care and treatment they need to live independently and maintain freedom in their communities. Although deinstitutionalization has occurred, the mentally ill are still being ‘institutionalized’ in our local jails, state and federal prisons. Why is this still happening if treatment and community based mental health care programs for those who suffer from mental illness are in place? Will history repeat itself; or are prisons and jails the new homes for those with mental illness in the United States?
Mentally ill prisoners in prison should be well taken care of. These offender need more care than those without a mental illness due to the illness they have they could hurting innocents civilian and guards or other prisoners like themselves or even themselves. Mentally ill offender need more medicines, Improve conditions, and the cost to keep them. Medicines Mentally ill offenders need as much more medicine than inmates without a mental illness,
To continue agitating the process in recurring prisoners back into the penitentiary for the reason of state’s incapability to encounter the request for treatment that drugs has caused being that the expense is detrimental of impartiality. Olson (2014) indicates that treating a habit as a transgression rather than a physical condition issue, complexes the adverse impression on human beings and communities in relations of community health and protection. Additionally, some criminals arise from being released from the penitentiary with crude substance habit condition, however offenders are most likely to be displayed of numerous transmissible illnesses while in prison. In efforts to absorb illicit performances that dishearten social responsibility,
Imagine being placed into an old run down building with thousands of men or women. A mixture of murders, rapist, drug dealers and just plain criminals, not having enough space to do anything. Welcome to prison. Prisons nationwide face many issues such as overpopulation which can lead to violence and millions of dollars being plunged in these institutions.
What can be done The monitoring, prevention and treatment of mental disorders, as well as the promotion of good mental health, are part of the public health goals in prisons. According to World Health Organization (2017), even in resource-limited countries, measures can be taken to improve the mental health of prisoners and prison staffs, which can be adapted to the country’s cultural, social, political and economic environment (WHO, 2017). In the British prisons, some practices and policies have also been implemented, which reflect the positive impacts of prisoners’ mental health and wellbeing. Provide prisoners with appropriate mental health treatment and care.
It should be understood that prisoners have feelings just like any other person. The prison system can also be very punitive which can cause a negative response in prisoners. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “Many of the defining features of incarceration are linked to negative mental health outcomes, including disconnection from family, loss of autonomy, boredom, and lack of purpose, and unpredictability of surroundings.” This means that we need to integrate something that will help the prisoners with their mental health so they don’t leave prison with issues they didn’t have to start with. The punitive side of incarceration can cause backlash from prisoners which could potentially motivate them to commit more
According to the article titled Mental illness hospitalizations more common among juvenile prisoners, “detained juvenile offenders were more likely to be hospitalized for mental illness…”. The article continues to mention that “detained youth are a high-risk population with numerous unmet medical and mental health needs”. Additionally, the article mentions that “63% of juvenile prisoners who were hospitalized had a primary diagnosis of mental health disorder…”. These facts are very troubling and only strengthen the fact that most of the youth who are being punished and locked up truly need guidance and
The United States Prison System's Effect on Inmate Mental Health Nikhita S. Natraj Department of English, Minnetonka High School English 9HC Ms. Peterson March 6, 2023 Abstract In the past couple of decades, there has been growing information supporting the claim that the United States prison system is causing mental health issues in its inmates. The two main systemic issues causing these mental health issues are overcrowding and solitary confinement. Both can cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression in prisoners.
Also, some prisons are provided with psychiatrists to help prisoners deal with mental disorders and psychological issues which will help with mental
In order to improve recidivism and increase positive experiences in rehabilitation more programs need to be available to mentally ill offenders. However, the programs must be altered in order to provide the best possible outcome for the type of mental illness being treated. This could become a difficult task because not all mental illnesses are the same and there is a lack of funding for the improvements and additions of programs in correctional settings. It may be more effective and efficient to look at others options for mentally ill offenders that are non-violent.
There are more people incarcerated who have a mental illness that there are in psychiatric hospitals. (Psychology Today). Mental Health America reports that “there are more than 1.2 million people currently residing in prisons and/or jails with a mental health condition and lack of access to mental health care”. (MHA). 40% of adults with a serious mental illness will be arrested at some point in their lifetime, usually for disturbing the peace or for a petty crime which are caused by their mental illness.