Prison Within the Mind
Just within the years 2003 and 2015, the incarceration rates for the mentally ill have tremendously increased, that within a survey done on inmates it was found that “more than three times more seriously mentally ill persons in jails and prisons than in hospitals”,(Carroll). The percentage rate has enormously increased, yet the mental health treatments in prison have not changed in the last two decades, (Carroll). There is a need for change in such situations, as a result, that out of all the inmates with mental illnesses, 83% were denied access to proper treatment, (Jailing People With Mental Illnesses). With millions of people being incarcerated each year and as society becomes more exposed to mental illnesses, there …show more content…
Thus, if help is not given to these inmates it created a loophole within society, (Carroll). But there are a couple of ways to reduce the increasing rate of mentally ill incarceration, which includes as early as the school system to after post-prison time. Beginning an early mental health awareness program within schools can help lower the incarceration rate since the unavailability of mental health awareness can lead students to being suspended or expelled and in a worst case scenario- dropping out. Consequently, the three reasons listed above, often point students into the direction of having a higher risk of being placed in the juvenile justice system, “students who are suspended or expelled are almost 3 times as likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system within the next year. Ultimately, students who have been in the juvenile justice system are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system”, (Access to Mental Health ). Furthermore, it is common for a person to lose their insurance benefits and services when going into the criminal justice system. Meaning, that if the person is already mentally ill before entering prison there will be a drastic shift in their treatment. Also, if a person does receive treatment during the time period they where behind bars, it is also common to lose access to proper treatment once they are released - which can be dangerous to those who were under prescribed medicine, (Access to Mental Health). To improve such dilemma, there should be more formulations programs or systems to help aid people transition in and out of prison, which should consist of, “receiving appropriate supports while in prison and have a plan that connect them to community-based services and with adequate insurance coverage prior to returning to the community”,
Just within the years 2003 and 2015, the incarceration rates for the mentally ill have tremendously increased, that within a survey done on inmates it was found that “more than three times more seriously mentally ill persons in jails and prisons than in hospitals”,(Carroll). The percentage rate has enormously increased, yet the mental health treatments in prison have not changed in the last two decades, (Carroll). There is a need for change in such situations, as a result, that out of all the inmates with mental illnesses, 83% were denied access to proper treatment, (Jailing People With Mental Illnesses). With millions of people being incarcerated each year and as society becomes more exposed to mental illnesses, there …show more content…
Thus, if help is not given to these inmates it created a loophole within society, (Carroll). But there are a couple of ways to reduce the increasing rate of mentally ill incarceration, which includes as early as the school system to after post-prison time. Beginning an early mental health awareness program within schools can help lower the incarceration rate since the unavailability of mental health awareness can lead students to being suspended or expelled and in a worst case scenario- dropping out. Consequently, the three reasons listed above, often point students into the direction of having a higher risk of being placed in the juvenile justice system, “students who are suspended or expelled are almost 3 times as likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system within the next year. Ultimately, students who have been in the juvenile justice system are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system”, (Access to Mental Health ). Furthermore, it is common for a person to lose their insurance benefits and services when going into the criminal justice system. Meaning, that if the person is already mentally ill before entering prison there will be a drastic shift in their treatment. Also, if a person does receive treatment during the time period they where behind bars, it is also common to lose access to proper treatment once they are released - which can be dangerous to those who were under prescribed medicine, (Access to Mental Health). To improve such dilemma, there should be more formulations programs or systems to help aid people transition in and out of prison, which should consist of, “receiving appropriate supports while in prison and have a plan that connect them to community-based services and with adequate insurance coverage prior to returning to the community”,