recidivism rates were far lower than the 60% rate of today. A recidivism rate of 67% was cited in Connecticut’s Criminal Justice Policy report for 2010. Although it didn’t report exact numbers, it did say that recidivism rates for the mentally ill was “significantly higher”(Byron). Inmates receive treatment while locked up, only to become noncompliant with treatments after release. Acts of violence by people suffering from mental illnesses are usually the result of a lack of ongoing mental health services after incarceration, causing them to act in an uncontrollable manner or in ways not known to them to be illegal. There are numerous cases where these individuals return to the home and have an altercation with a family member, causing them to return to the system due to the “tough on crime” and domestic violence laws that are now on the books.
There are ways to reduce recidivism among this population and save the country millions of dollars each year. Mental health in the United States has to be appropriately funded in order to reach the growing population of mental consumers and those with substance abuse problems. Currently, the United States needs forty to …show more content…
The concept of specialty courts took roots in the late 1980s with the first drug court in Dade County. These courts were able to use their resources to get offenders treatment, rather than locking them up untreated and likely to reoffend once released. Specialty courts have been used in a number of nonviolent offenses, such as prostitution and drug offenses. Chief Judge Donald Hudson of Illinois characterizes these courts as “an attempt to bring collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to effectively deal with the underlying cause”(Gunnarsson) With appropriate funding for social services, mental health courts could refer nonviolent mental offenders to case workers who would oversee their medications and provide
There are ways to reduce recidivism among this population and save the country millions of dollars each year. Mental health in the United States has to be appropriately funded in order to reach the growing population of mental consumers and those with substance abuse problems. Currently, the United States needs forty to …show more content…
The concept of specialty courts took roots in the late 1980s with the first drug court in Dade County. These courts were able to use their resources to get offenders treatment, rather than locking them up untreated and likely to reoffend once released. Specialty courts have been used in a number of nonviolent offenses, such as prostitution and drug offenses. Chief Judge Donald Hudson of Illinois characterizes these courts as “an attempt to bring collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to effectively deal with the underlying cause”(Gunnarsson) With appropriate funding for social services, mental health courts could refer nonviolent mental offenders to case workers who would oversee their medications and provide