NCJ Number
191622
Journal
Prison Review International Issue: 1 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 125-127
Date Published
July 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses mental healthcare in United States correctional facilities.
Abstract
As the inmate population has grown in recent years, the number of mentally ill inmates has also increased. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 1999 more than 250,000 jail and prison inmates--16 percent of the incarcerated population--were suffering from a serious and persistent mental illness. The number of mentally ill offenders incarcerated in penal facilities instead of mental hospitals continues to rise. To ease the burden of housing this population, correctional agencies have developed special strategies ranging from building new facilities and creating separate dormitories for this special needs group, to separating out those with similar profiles and supervising them together. Eight States use specialized facilities and some employ case managers who spend time in the tiers, halls, and yards. They observe behaviors and interact with other correctional staff who assist with the observations, which allows for early identification and intervention. Group and individual counseling is provided as well as other specialized programs, such as one designed to prepare inmates for life in the general population.