Mental Illness in Prison

A systematic criminalization

The 1960s were a time of great social reform. The civil rights act was passed, along with new programs to help the poor, aged and disabled. In the mid to late to 1950s there was an international deinstitutionalization movement.  Due to the advances in medication and the belief that the mentally ill were not getting the best treatment possible in isolated mental hospitals, there was a move towards community oriented care. The Community Mental Health Centers Act (1963) expressed the desire of the deinstitutionalization movement that had swept the nation. This act was intended to ensure that only individuals “who posed an imminent danger to themselves or someone else” were hospitalized. The number of people hospitalized for metal illnesses dropped from 560,000 in the 1950s, to 130,000 by 1980. Care moved into the community in forms such as ACT teams, community residences, and community psychiatric centers.

Deinstitutionalization

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Jails become the new Asylums

Closure of many psychiatric hospitalsProblems faced by newly released patients

Lack of family or social supportNon medication compliantSelf medicating with illegal substances+ Stressors and triggers to light the fuse for incarceration

Lethal NeglectChristopher LopezChristopher Lopez VideoJails are the new inasne aslyums.

Systems TheorySet of elements that are orderly, interrelated and function as a whole It is in the nature of these elements to interact with one another in every combination, each is effected by each other An individual, micro, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is arrested for murder while out of treatment, un-medicated, and symptomatic. Legislature is put into place on the federal or state level, macro, to maintain higher levels of treatment compliance for mentally ill individuals living among the general population. This in turn effects policy in local mental health facilities and agencies, mezzo.

United Nations Convention Against Torture

“Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”

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Kendra’s LawMandates treatment for mentally ill individuals living in the community who otherwise would not be able to live safely Lead to a decrease in violent crime. Controversial due to the seemingly forceful nature of mandated treatment

“Obama-Care”Over sixty million people have seen either a gain in access to mental health care, or an improvement in benefits as a result of the affordable health care act. More people may become aware of mental illness and how to seek help if they know that affordable treatment is available.

Prevention/InterventionSupported HousingCase ManagementSupportive ServicesPsychiatric day programsDrug Treatment programsEmployment for building self-efficacy

ReferencesMentally ill Prisoner Died Hooded, Strapped to Chair While Guards Chatted Nearby, Suit Claims. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOqCz6zUUrMNAMI | The Criminalization of People with Mental Illness - WHERE WE STAND. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Policy/WhereWeStand/The_Criminalization_of_People_with_Mental_Illness___WHERE_WE_STAND.htm PsychiatryOnline | Psychiatric Services | Persons With Severe Mental Illness in Jails and Prisons: A Review. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=81232 Solitary confinement facts | American Friends Service Committee. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://afsc.org/resource/solitary-confinement-facts UN Convention Against Torture. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html