Criminal Minded or Mental Illness Aisha Habeeb 10/6/2014 SW 4710 - Social Welfare Programs
The Social Issue Psychological disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder and trauma-related disorders, are rampant among inmates, and mental illness itself is a risk factor for landing in jail. Men suffering from a Mental Illness are 5 times more likely to be incarcerated than men in the general population; women 6 times more likely. Factors such as deinstitutionalization, lack of adequate resources, police and societal attitudes all contribute to the criminalization of the mental ill. ("By The Numbers: Mental Illness Behind Bars - Kaiser Health News )
The Facts Since the closing of mental health institutions local jails has been used to house the mentally ill. In fact there are three times more people with serious mental illness incarcerated than in hospitals. Based on statistics, the percentage of women incarcerated suffering from mental illness is greater than the percentage of men. In state prisons, 73 percent of women and 55 of men have at least one mental health problem In federal prisons, 61 percent of women and 44 percent of men In local jails, 75 percent of women and 63 percent of men ("By The Numbers: Mental Illness Behind Bars - Kaiser Health News )
Addressing the Concern Incarceration should not be the solution to mental illness. The biggest problem is that system for funding and providing mental health care is unjust. This system has been broken for some time. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) works to reduce the criminalization of people with mental illness by promoting local programs that divert people from the justice system and into treatment, and by advocating with state and federal policy makers to improve access to treatment and services that can prevent involvement with the justice system. Recently at the federal level, the Health Care Reform Act opened Medicaid to more people with mental health issues. It also required that all individual and small group insurance plans cover mental health treatment at the same level as other types of treatment and prohibit a lifetime max and spending limits. In 2008 the Mental Health Parity Act was signed in lifting the restriction on mental health care for group health plans. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Who s in control and is it working? The health care policies implemented by the federal government discussed on the previous slide are a step in the right direction. However, they only provide treatment and preventative care for those that seek it or that have family members in their corner. What about the people suffering from mental illness that slip through the cracks. Where does this leave them? There needs to be policies and training in place that teach law enforcement how to interact with this group of individuals. Maybe even a special court that handles criminal cases where the offender suffers from a mental illness. From an ethical viewpoint and as a humanitarian I was glad I didn t find anyone that oppose the idea of better health care for the mentally ill.
Michigan has a great idea In an effort end the revolving door affect associated with mentally ill individuals and the criminal justice system, Michigan has set 5 goals that should make a change on how this group is handle in the court system. Goals 1. Strengthen "Pre-booking" Jail Diversion for Individuals with Mental Illness 2. Ensure Quality, Effective, and Comprehensive Behavioral Health Treatment in Jails and Prisons 3. Expand "Post-Booking" Jail Diversion Options for individuals with Mental Illness 4. Reduce Unnecessary Incarceration or Re- incarceration of Individuals with Mental Illness 5. Establish an Ongoing Individuals with Mental Mechanism to Coordinate Illness and Assist with Implementation of Action Plan Goals and to Facilitate Needed Systems Change Each goals has actions steps within them. Majority of actions steps, except for the ones that are waiting on additional funding, are set to be implemented no later than 2017. The first goal which is set to be implemented on 12/31/2015 is huge. This goal will Implement statewide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program and other best practice models which could result in less arrest and fatalities at the hands of officers not trained on how to handle those suffering from a mental illness. (State of Michigan Mental Health Commission, 2013)
Another s Perspective Michelle Barber works with autistic children ages 2-18 years as an Early Intervention Specialist at Children s Hospital. She believes that the mental ill population is treated unjust. In her opinion if a person (police officer, judge and etc.) is not professionally trained in mental illness then they are not knowledgable of the different effects the certain mental illnesses have on a person. Therefore the offender may be treated and sentenced unfairly instead of receiving treatment that they need for their illness. Based on her past experience with her clients and the juvenile system she believes that judges are a little to eager to lock the children up instead of assisting them in seeking care. Michelle believes that the guidelines relating to mental health coverage under the Health Care Reform Act may help if mental health facilities and nurses adhere to the rules instead of medicating patients and discharging them. She hopes for a stronger support system for the mentally ill that can provide follow up contacts and resources to those affected including family and friends.(barber & Habeeb, 2014)
References Barber, M. (2014, October 6). Personal Interview - Mental Health (A. Habeeb, Interviewer). By The Numbers: Mental Illness Behind Bars - Kaiser Health News. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2014/may/16/by-the-numbers-mentalillness-jail.aspx National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). NAMI Criminal Justice Community Programs: Jails and Prisons. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://www.nami.org/template.cfm? Section=Criminalization&Template=/ContentManagement/ ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=155268 State of Michigan Mental Health Commission. (2013). MDCH/MDOC Diversion Strategies Action Plan 2013-2015. Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mentalhealth/ diversion_430011_7.pdf