ipl-logo

Mental Illnesses In Prisons

892 Words4 Pages

“People with mental health problems are almost never dangerous. In fact, they are more likely to be the victims than the perpetrators. At the same time, mental illness has been the common denominator in one act of mass violence after another.” In his statement, Roy Blunt gives a new perspective on how crimes are related to mental illnesses. As he mentions, not all people with mental illnesses are dangerous, however, it seems that the blame for violent crimes is almost always put on a mental illness. Not only are individuals with mental illnesses blamed for how their brain works under certain circumstances, but they are also punished as a way to prevent them from committing a similar crime in the future. However, most people can agree that these serious mental illnesses should be cared for and attempted to be cured, not only for health reasons, but also for overall safety in society. In fact, studies show that many criminals that are in prison today are actually suffering from a serious mental illness. …show more content…

In his book Unfair, Benforado mentions one important factor that can add to a mental illness. He reveals that “environment can play a powerful role in how our brains develop, particularly during the prenatal, infant, and early childhood periods” (54). Therefore, there are many underlying causes of mental illnesses, including how one’s brain develops due to the environment one lives in. As he mentioned, particular aspects of one’s childhood heavily determines what they may be able to cope with in the future. During this phase in one’s childhood, many mental illnesses can develop due to vital circumstances, that may be uncontrollable. Therefore, not only is it necessary for children at this point in their lives to receive the proper time and attention they need, but how their brains develop plays a crucial role in how they will react in circumstances in the

Show More
Related

Summary Of PBS Frontline

691 Words | 3 Pages

This episode of PBS Frontline focuses on the growing problem of the enormous mentally ill criminal population in prisons and jails. The viewer is also provided with insight on the challenges and difficulties many of the released mentally ill face that often lead them back into incarceration. As the numbers of mentally ill offenders increase, much is debated regarding terms of release and the deinstitutionalization of the 1970’s. One of the main focuses of this episode was how many mentally ill criminals often find themselves re-incarcerated. Those that make parole or temporary supervision are usually better off being that they have someone to make sure their lives are organized.

Read More

Summary Of The Schorr's Case

1655 Words | 7 Pages

Police are routinely cast into conditions in which they have to recognize and quickly adapt to situations involving mentally ill suspects. This may be the reason police officers are known as “streetcorner psychiatrists, de facto mental health service providers, or psychiatrist in blue.” Some studies report that ten percent of all police contacts are with people with a serious mental illness. Other studies report that people with a serious mental illness represent six to eight percent of all state prisoners, while other data claims that over half of state prisoners have a serious mental illness. Further, people with a serious mental illness will spend more time incarcerated than people who do not have a serious mental illness.

Read More

The New Asylums Summary

188 Words | 1 Pages

The video named, “The New Asylums,” is about people in prison who have mental illness. Many people who have mental illness are held in prison throughout the America instead of hospitals or facilities, and they are more tend to be homeless before arrested and put in to jail. According to video, there are some mental health treatment meetings in prison. However, some psychologists think that people who have mental illness in prison need hospitalization. Moreover, the video claims that inmates who has severe mentally illness cant follow the rules.

Read More

Mentally Ill Behind Bars Summary

1498 Words | 6 Pages

The book indirectly supports this idea by repeatedly stating people argue that those with mental illnesses are not getting the adequate amount of help while incarcerated, and sometimes prison life may complicate the problems mentally ill people already face (Ch. 9, pg. 231). If inmates can struggle with menial tasks like standing in line for lunch or medications, or struggle with disrupting behavior, it would make sense to send them to a facility where they can get proper mental health care rather than a disciplinary system that may cause more disruptions and

Read More

Confederate Memorial Day Essay

828 Words | 4 Pages

Another issue that the American prison systems were facing was their constant practice of locking away mentally ill individuals to very long prison sentences that only seriously worsened their conditions, and even made their chances of overcoming mental illness, nearly impossible. Even medications that were prescribed to these individuals made them suffer serious and sometimes even worse, side effects. Although some states banned the high rates of mentally ill individuals to prisons, this only meant they were more targeted and thrown in jail for petty offenses by police. Many prisons do not have the resources, nor the skills needed to adequately and appropriately care for the mentally ill, therefore many of them suffer and even die from this

Read More

Mental Illness: Prison And Asylum Reform

679 Words | 3 Pages

“Many cultures have viewed mental illness as a form of religious punishment or demonic possession. In ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, and Roman writings, mental illness was categorized as a religious or personal problem (“"Mental Health Hospitals and Deinstitutionalization”).” This quote shows that even in the ancient civilizations, people viewed mentally ill people as being “possessed” but really it was the lack of understanding and religious fervor that led to this conclusion. Some of the treatments they used were, “Priests often solaced mentally disturbed individuals by encouraging them to repent their sins and seek refuge in God’s mercy (Foerschner, par. 2).” They would make them go to church regularly, and go on holy pilgrimages to

Read More

Community Mental Health Act Of 1963 Essay

1349 Words | 6 Pages

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

Read More

Mental Illness In Correctional Facilities

475 Words | 2 Pages

There are so many mentally ill people in correctional facilities because most families do not know how to help their loves ones who suffer from a mental illness, so the call the police for help. Majority of the police officers do not know what to do or how to handle people with a mental illness disease. Police officers who are not trained to deal with the mentally ill often do not recognize that person is ill. Some police officers do not recognize if the individual should or not go to jail or a treatment center or medical facility. The impact of law enforcement and the judicial system dealing with people with a mental illness is to assist the inmates with the help they need.

Read More

Mass Shootings Research Paper

952 Words | 4 Pages

I agree with this statement. However, I do not solely blame the criminal for their actions due to their mental illness. Creating stricter gun laws, expanding mental health awareness

Read More

Untreated Mental Illness In Prisons

525 Words | 3 Pages

Untreated mental illness is dangerous and over time we have learned that locking people with a mental illness is not the solution but makes it worse. People with untreated mental illness face many consequences. “People with untreated psychiatric illnesses comprise 250,000 people, of the total homeless population” (mentalillnesspolicy.org). The quality of life for these individuals is extremely heart breaking, and many are victimized regularly.

Read More

Insanity Plea Essay Topics

1814 Words | 8 Pages

Many individuals lack the understanding and awareness of mental illness and this can be very dangerous, especially when making decisions in regard to criminal behaviour. In some instances, the judicial system's failure to recognise the causal link between psychopathy and criminal behaviour can result in systemic failures. People who understand the struggle, difficulties, and functions linked with mental illness can better understand how it can affect one’s actions. People who have a better knowledge of the topic of mental illness will also be more understanding of the Insanity plea. Some people will be able to understand that the insanity plea does not necessarily let the criminal off with no punishment.

Read More

Essay On Mental Illness In Prison

332 Words | 2 Pages

Offenders with these disorders could be dangerous to other or even themselves. The offenders with disorders like those stated before are close to being released back into society which must be frightening if they do not take their medicines. 2 Improve conditions Mental offenders are thrown in a correctional facilities due their crimes, but these offenders should be in a prison or a correctional facility where they do not get the help they need. When in a prison some of these offender could be and will be picked on like a schoolyard which might led to a suicide attempt. A report on mental offender in california have reported that over 30,000 prisoners confined in the state prison.

Read More

Essay On Mental Health In Prison

813 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

Persuasive Speech On Mental Illness

577 Words | 3 Pages

Much of the criminal activity that takes place today is heavily related to the lack of treatment for mental illness. According to the US National Library of Medicine, approximately 60% of shooter in mass shootings that took place in the United States after 1970 displayed symptoms of acute paranoia, delusions, and depression before committing their inhumane acts. I am sure that most of you are aware of the Sandy Hook shooting that took place on December 12, 2012. The perpetrator, Adam Lanza took the innocent lives of 20 students as well as the lives of 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Lanza had displayed key signs of mental illness as young as the age of three.

Read More

Argumentative Essay On A Mental Health Issue

947 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Mental Illnesses In Prisons

Related Topics

Open Document