“Jails and prisons have become the mental asylums of the 21st Century” (qtd. in Daniel). The American prison system should be used strictly for criminals, not for those seen as the “criminally insane.” By researching America’s prison system in today’s world, how this has affected mentally ill inmates, and learning about reform movements, America has a chance to treat these people as prisoners of their own minds instead of placing them behind literal bars.
The deinstitutionalization of the state mental health system has caused a dangerous overpopulation in America’s prison system. “The United States has the highest rate of adult incarceration among the developed countries, with 2.2 million currently in jails and prisons” (Daniel). This overpopulation …show more content…
The results show that, among the men, 3.7% had psychotic illness, 10% major depression, 65% with some form of a personality disorder, and 47% with antisocial personality disorder. The women's’ results revealed that 4% had psychosis, 12% major depression, and 42% a personality disorder. Additionally, a significant number suffered from anxiety disorders and other developmental disorders, including mental retardation and Asperger's syndrome. The majority of the surveyees lacked proper education and were economically disadvantaged, with little to no vocational or employment skills. Approximately 70% also suffered from substance abuse disorders (Daniel). These are the people currently residing in America’s …show more content…
“One needed reform is nationwide expansion of crisis intervention team (CIT) programs for law enforcement” (Reserved). These programs train police officers to respond more safely and humanely to the mentally ill by using ‘verbal de-escalation’ skills and transporting them to medical care centers rather than jail. Today, approximately 2,800 CIT programs exist in the U.S., but this represents only 15% of police jurisdictions. Cities such as San Antonio and Miami have been experimenting with these reforms and are seeing improvements in jail overcrowding and city debt, saving San Antonio $10 million and Miami $12 million annually (Reserved). Providing appropriate, effective mental health services in communities before crises occur is a necessary change to be made, but orchestrating programs such as these to reform the prison system for the criminally ill is a great start. “According to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, more than 300 cities and counties across the U.S. have established mental health or drug courts, in which the mentally ill and those with substance use disorders are sent to treatment rather than incarcerated” (Ollove). No matter how small the number, this has the potential to make a monumental difference- not just for the victims of this awry system, but for the country as a
The deinstitutionalization of the state mental health system has caused a dangerous overpopulation in America’s prison system. “The United States has the highest rate of adult incarceration among the developed countries, with 2.2 million currently in jails and prisons” (Daniel). This overpopulation …show more content…
The results show that, among the men, 3.7% had psychotic illness, 10% major depression, 65% with some form of a personality disorder, and 47% with antisocial personality disorder. The women's’ results revealed that 4% had psychosis, 12% major depression, and 42% a personality disorder. Additionally, a significant number suffered from anxiety disorders and other developmental disorders, including mental retardation and Asperger's syndrome. The majority of the surveyees lacked proper education and were economically disadvantaged, with little to no vocational or employment skills. Approximately 70% also suffered from substance abuse disorders (Daniel). These are the people currently residing in America’s …show more content…
“One needed reform is nationwide expansion of crisis intervention team (CIT) programs for law enforcement” (Reserved). These programs train police officers to respond more safely and humanely to the mentally ill by using ‘verbal de-escalation’ skills and transporting them to medical care centers rather than jail. Today, approximately 2,800 CIT programs exist in the U.S., but this represents only 15% of police jurisdictions. Cities such as San Antonio and Miami have been experimenting with these reforms and are seeing improvements in jail overcrowding and city debt, saving San Antonio $10 million and Miami $12 million annually (Reserved). Providing appropriate, effective mental health services in communities before crises occur is a necessary change to be made, but orchestrating programs such as these to reform the prison system for the criminally ill is a great start. “According to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, more than 300 cities and counties across the U.S. have established mental health or drug courts, in which the mentally ill and those with substance use disorders are sent to treatment rather than incarcerated” (Ollove). No matter how small the number, this has the potential to make a monumental difference- not just for the victims of this awry system, but for the country as a