Criminal Justice System Case Study

Solution Criteria Although people with mental illness who are involved with the criminal justice system require addition services, according to a study of the Mental Health Court of Indiana, nearly 13% of defendant did not receive addition services (Luskin, 2013, p. 259). This paper proposes three solutions to the nation’s issue of overpopulation of people with mental illness being incarcerated in its jails and prisons. These solutions dissect both advantages and disadvantages of applying its resolution to treatment and prosecution of persons with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system.
Proposed Solution One Mental health courts are beginning to develop across the nation. “Their existence rests on an assumptions that people with mental ilness get into trouble with the law because they are not receiving treatment or adaquate treatment” (Luskin, 2013, p. 255). This diversion program is a voluntary program that allows the defendant to committ to treatment for the exchange of a reducced of lifted criminal charge. The Marion Mental Health Court of Indiana is one of the oldest mental health courts …show more content…
Therefore, the jail administration has the legal obligation to provide health and mental health care for all inmates (Osher, Scott, Steadman, & Robbins, 2006, p.2). However, the treatment that is provided lags behind in it’s effectiveness and relativeness. Some great advantages of the pre-booking screening are that officers feel more prepared when dealing with the mentally ill on calls. Law enforcement officers have a more positive outlook of persons with mental illness because they have a positive attitude and beliefs, and knowledge relevant to mental illness. Intake screenings also have a high probability of reducing arrests and lowering criminal justice costs (Ringhoff, Rapp, and Robst, 2012,