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Mental Illness In Prison Essay

1557 Words7 Pages

The debate surrounding mental illness is heavily discussed in society. Discussion revolving around whether people with mental illness need to be punished for breaking the law or, instead, are provided with an alternative route to help. According to the CPS, a mental health condition may be used as a defence, but it does not necessarily mean that this will affect the decision to prosecute. (CPS, 2019: Online). To delve into mental illness, one must first understand what it is. Mental health is something that everyone suffers from sometimes. Mental illnesses, however, can stem from trauma or a running history of mental health problems. Mental illness can be helped but will always remain a constant in an individual's life. Therefore, mental health …show more content…

Such as the lack of help that those with mental illness face, whether in prison or not. Applying this to the justice system, however, many mentally unwell prisoners are left in prison instead of being given urgent help by being transferred to mental health hospitals, further deteriorating their mental health (CJJI, 2021; Online). The sparse incentive to help those with mental illness results in a downfall in individuals' mental health; rehabilitation is a necessary step to improve the criminal justice system, but it is not up to date with this helping hand for offenders who have obvious signs of mental illness. The level of individuals not mentally well will be dealt with not by the health system, but the penal system is prominent as resources are slim (Law Commission, 2013; Online). Prisons do not have the appropriate services to deal with offenders suffering, but offering hospitalization is a last resort that many do not get the opportunity to use. This lack of rehabilitation, paired with the fact that the media is so quick to villainize mental illness as something violent and out of control, does not offer relief to those suffering from such illnesses. Therefore, punishment should not be the first decision unless an offender's mental illness has played no part in their

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