The Criminal Justice System And Mental Health Crisis Criminology Essay

The Criminal Justice System And kind Health Crisis Criminology act kind wellness c argon in the United sepa steps today is at a crisis point. Nowhere is this crisis to a greater extent evident than looking into the bend arbiter system. Beginning in the 1970s, the Community Mental Health Act de administrationalized alone inmates of the asylum that were non a clear and pre direct danger to themselves and order (Allen et. al, 2013, p. 390). Since then, the closing of 90% of say and association amiable health facilities has had an frightful effect on a nonher institution the correctional facilities. The stemma in the use of state cordial institutions has ensueed in the mor entirelyy vertiginous being cast into the streets, often resulting in immurement for minor offenses such as trespassing, theft, indecent behavior or populace intoxication. Their psychogenic unwellness unite with drug abuse which is quite common with street life, can in quantify result in dang erous and destructive behavior. Since most states today do not gravel the capacity to accommo interpret the amiablely ill in a intercession facility, they atomic number 18 sent to prison house house instead.In prison, they are treated with medication, examined by physicians, psychologists and counselors and recover from their illness to an extent that they are commensurate to be released to prevail a normal life. The reality is, however, the recidivism rate for the psychicly ill is astounding. Within 18-months of their release, to the highest degree two-thirds will grow themselves back off stool bars. With little to no support system awaiting them in the free world, they often struggle to maintain a supply of their medication, remember to take every medication they squander, find housing or a job. They often stimulate homeless and stop taking their medication. . Their in force to assimilate to freedom erst magic spell again finds them decompensated, off their medicati on and back into the system to start the circle over again being arrested either for minor or cherry crimes and their return to incarcerated life the provided life that is able to provide them with a routine of proper alimony. This creates a revolving door of word and rehabilitation followed by decompensation and incarceration for m both of the cordially ill.The state of atomic number 27 is no exception to this scenario. In 2009, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) gave conscientious objector an overall strain of C in their dole out provided to the mentally ill. The state soak upd an F in Health Promotion Measurement, a B in Financing Core Treatment/Recovery Services, a C in Consumer Family Empowerment and a D in Community desegregation Social Inclusion. Not surprisingly, the areas in need of the most improvement include workforce development, housing, jail diversion classs, availability of reentry political platforms, mental illness public education ef forts and per capita mental health courts. The state received a grade of zero in many of these categories and fell well below the average out U.S. score in other(a)s. On the other hand, the Colorado Department of department of corrections (doc) Mental Health Unitprovides and manages cost effective mental health operate to offenders. Services are provided to diminish the risk to public and institutional condom, and maintain or improve offender level of posting. The DOC provides a wide range of professional psychiatric, psychological, social work, and mental health treatment services to offenders incarcerated in the DOC. The DOC Mental Health Unit manages the mental health needs of the offender population from usance at the capital of Colorado Reception and Diagnostic centerfield (DRDC), throughout their incarceration, and provides specialized transition services for targeted populations as they leave the facilities to parole, confederation corrections placements, or discharg e. (DOC, 2012)The funds and care allowd to the criminal justice system as opposed to the Division of Mental Health in Colorado for the care of mental illness is a clear indication of the volume of inmates with mental illness that the correctional facilities receive. The criminalisation of persons suffering from mental illness is a critical component of the escalating prison population who at one time would present been treated in mental hospitals, are displaced into correctional facilities (OKeefe Schnell, 2007 p.82). Data gathered by OKeefe and Schnell (2007) indicates that nearly 25% of U.S. inmates incarcerated in state facilities are mentally ill sequence the approximation of mental illness in the general populous accounts for only 2.6% making it obvious that they are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.In the Unites States today, with mental health care in its afoot(predicate) state, it is practically impossible to separate mental health care fro m the correctional system. An offenders first experience within the correctional sytem, whether mentally ill or not, is usually with an arrest being made and sent to a topically operated jail. Thus, it is essential to provide training and appropriate training to those who serve the communities at the most provincial level to understand mental illness in an offender so that they may be directed to the proper institution for care. Public awareness and increased government recognition in youthful years has seen the development of jail diversion programs to increase screening and treatment options at the local level. Additionally, mental health screening and treatment is like a shot conveyd to be provided as a matter of policy so that psychotropic medications are prescribed and counseling is done by train mental health providers in all Federal prisons and most State prisons and jail jurisdictions (Davis, Fallon, Vogel, Teachout, 2008, p.218). This seems to be a step in the right di rection, however, while the program gestates the availability of the service, access and quality of service or kinda the lack of, has rendered such programs to be ineffectiveand incompatible with therapeutic efforts (David et al., 2008, p. 218). atomic number 53 of the most important and difficult challenges faced by the correctional systems is recognition of mental illness. Screening for mental health at the time of intake becomes a vital part of the process to determine whether an offender requires psychological treatment or to be places in a mental hospital, at least temporarily, rather than to be incarcerated. Offenders with a mental illness require treatments, medications, and social support needs that significantly differ from other, non-mentally ill offenders in order to assist them with the ability to cope with prison life. OKeefe and Schnells research provided that the strongest bring factor to the identification of mental disorders is a charted history of mental illne ss. Offenders with a recorded treatment history saw a 91.7% detection rate of mental illness whereas only 32.5% were detected when treatment histories were unknown (2007, p. 84). The schematic challenges confronted by any incarcerated person with a mental health task are inflated dramatically when focused on these offenders ability to function in a correctional setting. As stated, research has shown that, many of the mental health needs of offenders often go undetected and/or untreated in correctional settings. This has serious implications for the inmate, the individuals surrounding them in the institution (other inmates and lag alike), and the community at large, when the inmate is eventually returned to troupe (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009).Community base care is vital to the success and rehabilitation of mentally ill inmates that have been released. Many of these former inmates have very little family, friends or community which will provide a support system during their tr ansition from incarceration back into society. Those who are released into the custody of parole or probation often find success for the duration of their stay at a half-way house or while probation officers are available to monitor their progress and ensure they are taking their medications. Those who have hitd their sentence and are simply released, or maxed out of the system, furthere worse as they usually have no home, job, stability or support awaiting them to ease the transition. Without support incorporated with mental health care, substance abuse, employment, and other services, many people with mental illness end up being homeless, disconnected from community supports, and thus more likely to . . . become involved with the criminal justice system (Davis et al, 2008, p. 219). check to John Suthers, the executive director of the Colorado Department of corrections, only 5% of the prison population was chronically mentally ill. By 1999, the number had multiply and 95% of t hem would be returning to our communities, where theyll have very little support. Theyll likely stop taking their medication, and many of them become violent without it. Thatll force them back into the criminal justice system (Groom, 1999, p.115).Over the course of a tenner beginning in 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has enhanced the continuity-of-care policies and procedures for inmates with mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and developed programs to assist inmates with reentry into the community (Couturier, 2005, p. 83). The Community Orientation and Reintegration program developed by the Pennsylvania DOC and described in Couturiers oblige (2005) is a two- grade program designed to enable inmates transition from the prison environment to their home community. The program provides an individualized agenda based on the inmates ability levels and progress level attained within the correctional facility. The first phase of the program as described by Cou turier (2005) is completed in the prison during the several weeks prior to discharge and addresses the critical issues of parole responsibilities such as employment preparation, vocational evaluation, personal finances, substance abuse education, Alcoholics anon./Narcotics Anonymous conglomerateings, housing, family and parenting, mental health, life skills, antisocial attitudes and community (give back) services (Couturier, 2005, p. 83). The bite phase of the program prepares inmates to return to the community over a four- to six-week program individually designed to the best capabilities and interests of the offender. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and DOC community corrections mental faculty establish a release date for the inmate as to when he is able to leave from the community corrections center based upon his progress. If necessary, program procedures can be modified to meet the needs of an offender with special needs. This kind of program greatly benefits not only the inmate as his transition to the community is monitored and supported it is withal honest to the community receiving the former inmate as their chances of assimilating to the community increase their potential threat to the community decreases.The Colorado Department of Corrections opened the San Carlos Correctional Facility in 1995 in response to the change magnitude number of mentally ill inmates that required special needs. The facility supports a capacity of 255 beds and is ran more as a therapeutic community often like a rehabilitation center for addicts rather than a traditionalistic lock-down prison and is able to provide specialized treatment, care, and programming to mental health special need male offenders in a Level V Correctional Facility.Prepare offenders for successful community re-entry or successful reintegration into Colorado Department of Corrections Facilities. Promote a positive work finis with innovative management practices in an ethical, pr ofessional, and responsible manner by empowering employees and promoting staff development (SCCF, 2012). Programs provided to prisoners at the San Carlos facility in order to aid in transitioning to society include Adult Basic Education, Work Activity Center where offenders learn basic skills such as sewing, using a time clock and responsible behavior in a work place, Mental Health classes in Understanding Your Mental Illness, Symptom/Medication Management, institutional Coping Skills and Addiction Recovery Programs according to their website (SCCF, 2012). Once released, they are sent to a halfway house where the residents continue an after-care program where they learn to live and work in the community (Groom, 1999, p. 119) as well as receive psychiatric care and access to their medications.Although protection of autonomy for those with a mental illness is essential, the rights of the inmates need to be balanced with the necessity of providing care to those whom are not able to und erstand how the administration of mental healthcare is beneficial to them, the inmate population and to the correctional staff. Some authorities have insist the benefits of providing mental health services to incompetent prisoners however, advocating involuntary treatment of individuals who decline to consent should be taken with caution, particularly in such a vulnerable population as inmates. It is advantageous for any civilized society to ensure adequate legal protection of the civil liberties of its marginalized citizens and that any such treatment is provided in compliance with applicable statute. The ethics and human rights requirements require careful monitoring and such treatment must clearly be in the best interests of the inmate (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009, p. 829-830).Although there are numerous challenges to providing appropriate mental health services to inmates experiencing mental health problems, the moment of probability that is available when an individual with m ental health needs is in correctional custody should not be ignored. Many individuals receive their first real, complete mental health evaluation upon entering the correctional system. Their and the attentive care that they receive can offer a therapeutic window which other than may not have been available to the offender at any other time in their life. Clinical and research experiences in jails and prisons have found that inmates frequently report that their admissions to corrections is the first time they have been asked about their psychiatric symptoms, their suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and their mental health needs, or had an opportunity to experience the relief brought about by antipsychotic or mood stabilizing medications (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009, p. 830). prison is not an easy place to adapt to. The function of a prison is to first and foremost provide safety and security to the community it serves not to provide mental health treatment. Prison life comes with a se t of strict rules, regulations, orders and standards that must be kept up(p) by every prisoner regardless of their mental capacity to do so. Despite the provisions of medication, therapy, and other mental health services provided by the correctional system it is nevertheless true for those with suffering from a mental illness that prison life can aggravate aspects of the illness resulting in behavioral disruptions. Medications relieve many of the manifestations of mental illness that perpetuate behavioral infractions therefore, disruptive behaviors are most likely to occur when the inmate is not taking their medication. Many mentally ill inmates refuse to take medications, and when this occurs, prison staff typically cannot forcibly administer them without a court order. disobedience occurs because the inmates want to avoid unpleasant side set up or benefit from selling or bargaining medications for desired amenities (OKeefe Schnell, 2007). Detrimental effects of medication nonc ompliance are further agitated by environmental variables. The prison environment is comprised of many adverse conditions that negatively affect all prisoners, such as overcrowding, excessive noise and uncomfortable temperatures. Lack of autonomy, tangible confinement, and humiliation can evoke fear and stress. The abrasive atmosphere in correctional facilities, when compounded by mental illness, can easily founding behavioral infractions such as yelling and aggressive behavior toward other inmates and staff, which lead to punitive consequences. OKeefe and Schnell (2007) also site a study conducted in 2006 that further provided evidence of prison adjustment issues where 58% of offenders with a mental illness were charged with rule violations in comparison to only 43% of non-mentally ill offenders. Additionally, the offenders behavioral disturbances can sometimes agitate other inmates and result in aggression towards the individual causing the annoyance. Correspondingly, it was fou nd that mentally ill offenders were twice as likely to sustain a fighting scathe as their non-mentally ill counterparts (OKeefe Schnell, 2007 p.87). Noncompliance with the regulations of the facility result in disciplinal action which can extend the sentence of an inmate sometimes far beyond the recommended sentencing guidelines for the crime they committed. Carl McEachron, an inmate at the maximum security prison in Lucasville, Ohio featured in PBS Frontlines documentary The New Asylum, has been in prison for 16years on a three year sentence for burglary on account of the countless disciplinary actions (Navaski OConnor, 2005).