...Many people are focused on the overcrowding of prisons; however, the increasing rates of the mentally ill in the prison system is also a very prominent issue that contributes to a lack of resources for the convicted. According to the US Bureau of Justice, over half of all prison and jail inmates nationwide have mental health problems. Although there is an abundant amount of research on the mentally ill in prison, many people are not aware of the social implications the mentally ill face when they are released back into society. Based on research conducted in North America, there is a repeating issue of recidivism which is the fact that these individuals are more likely to return to prison. The lack of concern for the recidivism in mentally...
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...PRISON STAFF MISCONDUCT Payton Geeting May 4, 2015 Through the correctional system there are many positive and negative aspects within criminal justice. The focus of this paper will be on how violence within the walls of prisons has gotten out of hand, especially in the hands of the officers behind the badge. There have been lots cases where police officers misuse their power and authority, some more extreme than others. The power given to police officers, correctional officers, and even people in authoritative positions, gives them the impression that they can do what they please because they are above the law. This happens way too often and can cause a lot of issues within the justice system. A psychology professor from Yale University, Stanley Milgram conducted a study that demonstrated the power that is given to a person and how they decide to use it (Gross, 22). The study that was conducted by Milgram involved participants placed randomly in two groups of “teachers” and “learners”. Participants were told the experiment was studying memory, but the study was actually proving that violent behavior is an ordinary occurrence in human behavior. Participants in the “teacher” group were given the power of sending an electric shock to the “learners” who were answering questions to do with memory (Gross, 22). This study was falsely given because there was actually no electric shock sent to the “learners”. The experimenters would play a recording of shouts simulating...
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...further notes… “ this literature review passage should summarize large groups of studies instead of individual ones”( Creswell, 2009, p.104). Rhodes, A.L. Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison (2004) is a book written by Dr. Lorna Rhodes. Her study explores, examines, and recognizes what life is like inside confined walls of solitary units inside prisons. Her study provides not only the image of solitary confinement- but the sense of loss and liberty of humanity when an offender is faced with long periods of extensive isolation from all; but those who feed you (correctional officers). Dr. Rhodes- explores and discusses the challenges that are faced both by the front-line-staff and offenders. Such as, psychological, emotional, and physiological changes- and provides her academic perspective with a scientific response. Rationale for Selection There are a lot of research currently available in-regards to isolation of offenders, and the biological effects on human body, mind, and perceptions. This study is valuable to my research even though the findings are not as scientific as I would have hoped; nevertheless, it provides circumstantial evidence that supports the harmful and toxic effects of segregation on offenders, health care providers, and the front-line-staff. Her portrayal and descriptive encounters with all that are involved in her ethnographic study holds true- as I am presently integrated in the life of incarceration, and segregation...
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...Mentally Ill in Prison PSCH/610 Mentally Ill in Prison Abstract The increase in incarcerated individuals with mental illness in the preceding decades has made the prison system a prevalent mental health provider even though they are not prepared or equipped for such task. Prison life is tough on an individual’s mental health; overcapacity, lack of privacy, violent behavior, lack of activity, inadequate health services, seclusion from family and friends, and the insecurity of what life holds after prison contribute to the inmate’s mental health. Inmates whose judgment is altered or impaired by depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other severe mental illnesses are impacted more severely by the tribulations of prison life. Inadequate mental health services is also something mentally ill inmates face, this absconds them undertreated or mistreated. Numerous prisoners do not receive proper psychotropic medication due to the lack of mental health services and care, further impairing their capability to function. The security mission of prisons tends to overlook mental health considerations. Prison rules and codes of demeanor teach staff about security, safety, supremacy, and power. Coordinating the needs of the mentally ill with prison regulations and goals is almost impractical. Factors of the sources and effects of the concern between prison and mental illness will be observed in this research proposal. Reforms will be provided to improve mental health requirements...
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...further notes… “ this literature review passage should summarize large groups of studies instead of individual ones”( Creswell, 2009, p.104). Rhodes, A.L. Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison (2004) is a book written by Dr. Lorna Rhodes. Her study explores, examines, and recognizes what life is like inside confined walls of solitary units inside prisons. Her study provides not only the image of solitary confinement- but the sense of loss and liberty of humanity when an offender is faced with long periods of extensive isolation from all; but those who feed you (correctional officers). Dr. Rhodes- explores and discusses the challenges that are faced both by the front-line-staff and offenders. Such as, psychological, emotional, and physiological changes- and provides her academic perspective with a scientific response. Rationale for Selection There are a lot of research currently available in-regards to isolation of offenders, and the biological effects on human body, mind, and perceptions. This study is valuable to my research even though the findings are not as scientific as I would have hoped; nevertheless, it provides circumstantial evidence that supports the harmful and toxic effects of segregation on offenders, health care providers, and the front-line-staff. Her portrayal and descriptive encounters with all that are involved in her ethnographic study holds true- as I am presently integrated in the life of incarceration, and segregation...
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...Case Study: Out-of-Town Brown and the Besieged Probation Supervisor Zacarias Sambula Jr, Derrick Cooper, Kenisha Smith, Harshvir Sekhon CJA/454 Criminal Justice Theory and Practice April 01, 2013 David Pettinari Case Study: Out-of-Town Brown and the Besieged Probation Supervisor Intro Question#1 Question#2 The mental and physical trauma experienced by the 23-year-old man from his stepfather was enough to send him over the edge and murder his stepfather. The boy never had a chance for a decent life. Many prosecutors would have a hard time sending him to jail because of the mental state in which the 23-year-old man was at the time. It is important to consider that there is no criminal record. According to, the young man’s report there is no prior record and had been an incest victim because he was five; otherwise he is a nonviolent person, a low recidivism risk. Because of the situation intermediate sanctions will benefits the young man because he will be able to get the treatment he needs. Intermediate sanctions serve multiple purposes aside from keeping the young man out of jail for treatment. It also allows the prison system to reduce the population, make room for the more serious offenders, provide non-violent offenders with opportunity at a second chance, offers a wide range of rehabilitation programs and treatments. While in intermediate sanctions the young man’s activities will be restricted while receiving the help he needs, at the same time hold...
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...of members of prison staff. This is sometimes having been called as a form of punishment which is beyond incarceration for a prisoner and has been named as an additional measure of protection for the inmate. This form of punishment is also given to anyone that violations the prison regulations. It is also used as a form of protective custody and to prevent in...
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...“Thousand of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment” (Therapy Today). This is the first problem that arises for mentally ill patients. They commit crimes that they are medically unaware to take responsibility for and are being put into prison facilities. Other problems have arose besides the number of mentally ill in jail, and those include the treatment that these people are faced with. Some of the mental disabilities include, but are not limited to anxiety, depression, multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia. Most of the time the community, family, and authorities have never experienced an encounter with a mentally ill person and therefore have no way to behave or react. Thus concluding...
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...imprisonment and suicide. Prison is not an environment which promotes positive mental states. The lack of freedom and repetitiveness takes its toll on inmates, and it's not uncommon for prisoners to experience delusions or hallucinations as a result. More common effects in terms of mental health however are increased risk of anxiety and depression. Of course, a decent proportion of offenders had pre-existing psychological disorders before their incarceration, but it's likely that the conditions within prison have both increased depression and triggered it in a significant number of cases. It has been suggested that recent overcrowding in prisons is a major influence on suicide rates in prisons. This is likely as prisoners are more crowded in a confined space, meaning interactions with fellow prisoners are more likely. Such interactions could increase the stress levels of prisoners as they may grow uncertain about the intentions of other prisoners and it may affect their own intentions. In a study conducted by Dooley, the suicide rates of prisoners in England and Wales were reviewed. It was found that out of 442 unnatural deaths that had occurred, 300 had been given a verdict of suicide. Dooley attributed the factor of overcrowding in prisons to the suicide rates, concluding prisoners’ stress levels are increased and therefore become depressed and are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. This study shows a correlation link between overcrowding in prisons and the suicide rates of...
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...very important when running a prison or jail. Usually, mentally ill inmates have had few or no protections against discipline routinely applied to their non-mentally ill peers. Arising from recent class action lawsuits challenging the quality of mental health care delivery in the nation’s prisons, prison mental health professionals have been called on to play an increasing role in the inmate disciplinary process. Referral questions include whether an inmate is competent to proceed with disciplinary proceedings and whether mental illness may have contributed to the rule violation. Prison mental health professionals participating in inmate disciplinary proceedings must therefore be familiar with relevant clinical, legal, and ethics issues. Little has been written in the psychiatric literature, however, examining this important role for prison mental health professionals. After first reviewing core legal and constitutional concepts, the author presents the results of a nationwide survey examining the role for mental health professionals in the inmate disciplinary process. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to provide a comprehensive review of this subject. Most prison systems have procedures for punishing prisoners who violate prison rules and for removing inmates from the general population for disciplinary or safety reasons. (For the purpose of this article, the terms “prisoner” and “inmate” will be used interchangeably. “Mental health” and “custody” are sometimes...
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...confinement is a form of imprisonment in which an inmate is isolated from any human contact for 23 hours a day. In certain situations, a prisoner can be held in solitary confinement for several days, weeks, and even months. Solitary confinement is immoral and should be illegal in American prison systems because it causes significant mental distress, physical pain, and it violates the eighth amendment of the United States constitution. Human beings are social creatures. Most parents put their children in a learning environment at a very young age to encourage social interaction with peers. Social interaction is vital to the mental wellness of humans at all ages and stages of development. Solitary confinement violates the very nature of the social interaction that is needed for one’s mental health. Numerous studies have shown that roughly a third of solitary inmates were “actively psychotic and/or acutely suicidal” (Dvorsky 8). This type of punishment does not support mental health, which is critical for rehabilitation. Inmates who experience psychological trauma are less likely to recover, “without human contact, inside a cell that is approximately 80...
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...could not be diverted. The Yates family was very religious and Bible reading was an enjoyed pass time within the household. Around 1990, Andrea’s internal issues came to the surface with her self-mutilation accompanied by a suicide attempt, which was followed by a short admission into a psychiatric ward. When released her mood had stabilized from a newly prescribed anti-psychotic with her life looking up. This cycle, unfortunately, insisted on continuing on three separate occasions before Andrea was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-partum depression. Yates was warned that if she were to become pregnant again it was highly likely the episodes of psychotic behavior would resurface. She began to grasp the magnitude of her mental health and was readily taking her medications despite the begging and pleading from her husband for another child. Nonetheless, Andrea gave in and the pregnancy of her 5th child began in 2000. In the events of her newborn’s birth, discontinuation of her anti-psychotic, and the passing of her father, Andrea’s spiral into depression was more catastrophic than ever. June 20th, 2001, her husband went off to Pakel 2 work as usual unaware that Andrea’s plotting from the past two years was about to be put into action. Yates systematically drowned each of her five children in a bathtub from youngest to oldest, then preceded to lay their lifeless bodies on her bed. Andrea Yates, at age 37, picked up her home telephone and called the police for the...
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...Mental health is an important issue within the criminal justice and prison systems as it disproportionately affects those who are imprisoned. Stohr and Walsh (2012) suggest one factor that has contributed to the growing number of mental health issues within the prison population in America where government attempted to move towards half way houses and outpatient facilities instead of mental health hospitals. Yet failures to this deinstitutionalisation movement led to jails and prisons becoming the go to places for mental health patients. The situation in UK prisons is similar as mental disorder was found in 37% of sentenced male prisoners, 63% of men on remand, 57% of sentenced women prisoners and 76% of women remand prisoners (Birmingham,...
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...United States Department of Health and Human Services: As our country struggles through tough times there is no doubt we, as a whole nation, have had to make some compromises. One of the biggest, broadest issues our country has been facing is the recent budget cuts in numerous different categories including mental health care. Mental health care has gotten the short end of the stick in the last few years, and it has become a spiraling problem in the United States. Between 2009 and 2011 the United States witnessed some of the largest state budget cuts in history, and we are still suffering from the consequences of doing so. Where does a majority of homelessness, suicide, substance abuse and jail overcrowding stem from? If you take a closer look it will become very clear that cutting the funding for mental health research and treatment has left these mentally ill patients with very few options suitable enough for their varying conditions. Due to the lack of appropriate facilities needed to properly diagnose and treat mentally ill patients, jails are becoming overcrowded and homelessness is at an all-time high. The importance of mental health care is being put on the back burner while, instead, it needs to be a priority and that is why President Obama’s proposition to increase funding to aid the mentally ill in 2014 is extremely necessary. As states cut mental health care funding, prisons are becoming an asylum. There is a very common misconception among the general public...
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...The cost of the US prison system has almost quadrupled in the past 2 decades, as seen in a survey by Vera institute, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit center for justice policy and practice. The survey referenced above included 40 states where the price of incarceration has skyrocketed to an unignorable $33,495,070 for imprisoning persons. Prison costs are now the 2nd largest cost to the US taxpayer, behind Medicaid (Vera). In a study conducted by Professor Donald Black, an instructor at the university of Iowa’s department of psychology, it was found that 20% of prisoners have antisocial personality disorder or ASPD, consequently this data shows a large amount of prison costs can be attributed to those with ASPD. However, in comparison...
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