May is National Mental Health Month across America and mental health issues are once more in the spotlight. During the past two years, Reentry Central has posted several news items about the rise in the numbers of inmates diagnosed with mental illness, and the relationship between mental illness and arrests or unsuccessful reentry, as well as the growing concern that jails and prisons are becoming the dumping ground for mentally ill people.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) issued a report in 2006 that claimed that nearly fifty percent of all prison and jail inmates in America have a mental health problem. The BJS breaks that number down to 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners and 64 percent of local jail inmates. The study was based on symptoms reported by inmates to survey questions. The survey was administered by face-to-face interviews of 14,500 state prisoners, 3,700 federal inmates, and 7,000 individuals locked up in jails in 2002 and 2004. Inmates were questioned about their recent history or symptoms of mental illness, with the collected data determining:
54 percent of local jail inmates had symptoms of mania, 30 percent major depression and 24 percent psychotic disorder, such as delusions or hallucinations
54 percent of local jail inmates had symptoms of mania, 30 percent major depression and 24 percent psychotic disorder, such as delusions or hallucinations
35 percent of federal prisoners had symptoms of mania, 16 percent major depression and 10 percent psychotic disorder
Female inmates had higher rates of mental health problems than male inmates—in state prisons, 73 percent of females and 55 percent of males; in federal prisons, 61 percent of females and 44 percent of males; and in local jails, 75 percent of females and 63 percent of males
About a quarter of both state prisoners (27 percent) and jail inmates (24 percent) who had a mental health problem reported past physical or sexual abuse
A high incidence of substance abuse or dependence during the year before incarceration was also discovered among inmates reporting mental health issues:
74 percent of state prisoners and 76 percent of local jail inmates were dependent on or abusing drugs or alcohol
37 percent of state prisoners and 34 percent of jail inmates said they had used drugs at the time of their offense
13 percent of state prisoners and 12 percent of jail inmates had used methamphetamines in the month before their offense
Being homeless prior to incarceration was also a problem for surveyed inmates reporting mental illness symptoms:
Among inmates who had mental health problems, 13 percent of state prisoners and 17 percent of jail inmates said they were homeless in the year before their incarceration
The treatment rate and method of treatment among prisoners in the survey varied:
About one in three state prisoners with mental health problems, one in four federal prisoners and one in six jail inmates had received mental health treatment since admission
Taking a prescribed medication was the most common type of treatment—27 percent in state prisons, 19 percent in federal prisons, and 15 percent in local jails
Since the BJS report was issued mentally ill prisoners continue to cycle through the criminal justice system. Efforts to address the problem have resulted in the creation of Mental Health Courts. Police officers in many cities are being trained to deal with a individuals displaying signs of a mental disorders more effectively than throwing them in jail. Still, Human Rights Watch reports that mental health disorders continue to be far more prevalent in state prisons (56.2 percent) than in the general population (11 percent).
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