...An effective system of inmate discipline is 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...
Words: 4795 - Pages: 20
...walks of life being held in one prison or another across our great country for crimes they’ve committed or allegedly committed against mankind. Be it at the state, federal or county level, the U.S. prison system does not discriminate with regards to those who are physically challenged. Be it a prisoner who is mentally challenged or one whom is confined to a wheelchair, if they have committed a crime and are found guilty of such, they will be sentenced to facility that under most circumstances are equipped to handle prisoners with special needs. Take for example the criminally insane or those suffering with various kinds of mental illness: Round about 1955 the number of mental institution experienced a drawdown of types, in that they were not building any new facilities, despite the fact that approximately forty of the existing one’s had been shut down or were scheduled to be shut down. This change prompted the prison system to take over the role of caring for mentally ill inmates. As more and more prisons grew so did the role of the prison system to care for the influx of the special needs prisoners. Prisons were able to house and care for some 45,000 prisoners including those who were mentally ill, compared to that of a mental institutions ability to house some 3000 in a mental hospital. Perhaps one of the biggest drawback or downfalls related to this concept is that of the ability to rehabilitate the mentally ill. Because the prison system was/is not geared for actions...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
...External Stakeholders Art Clabon Professor Smarr Strayer University January 19, 2015 Loading...INTERNAL and EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS 2 Internal and External Stakeholders Identified- There are increasing counts of badly unstable ill people in the criminal justice system. This paper will shed light on the criminalization of people that has such illness thus issues that cause it. The law enforcement and mental health treatment what can be done to help the mentally ill offenders and the difficulties it causes. There are some recommendations to lesson or bring down criminalization of mentally ill people in the justice system this can occur by increasing and coordination of the police and mental health professionals in the field, which includes mental health training classes for law enforcement personnel. This can better help law enforcement and mental health personnel after the arrest are made. Thus making and developing a more suitable community treatment center for mentally ill offenders to be treated. This could work if the necessary people and components are in place for this type of center. But in order for this too occur both theory and practice must be there such as short-term and long-term goals for the offenders and a good liaison for the treatment of mentally ill offender in the justice system. This should also include the understanding and the desire for it structure. Things that shouldn’t be over looked are controlling the violence within the treatment center, and the crucial but...
Words: 1376 - Pages: 6
...The purpose of this assignment is to create an APA formatted reference list for eight articles from reputable sources, and a one paragraph summary for each article selected, and a brief expression of intent on the selected articles. As clearly noted in Creswell (2009) literature review provides the ground work for a preparation of another scientific work. Creswell 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...
Words: 1850 - Pages: 8
...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...
Words: 1190 - Pages: 5
...Mentally Ill Offenders Introduction Mental illness in prisons has been sort of a pandemic for correctional systems in the United States for over the last 10 years. The number of men and women who come to prison with some form of mental illness continues to grow by the day. Offenders who do not come to prison mentally ill, will most likely release from prison with some type of mental illness at the end of their prison sentence. This paper will discuss how this population of offenders adapts when they come to prison, and how there viewed by the community. This will be examined here along with some insights on what should be done along with why this topic was chosen. Schizophrenia Many mentally ill offenders come to prison with a variety of disorders schizophrenia, manic depression (bi-polar) or major depression (Schizophrenia.com - Crime, Poverty Violence., n.d.). Schizophrenic inmates probably account for the largest segment of offenders who enter the correctional system every day and have a difficult time adapting to the confines of a correctional environment. By definition schizophrenia is an inability to think, process emotions where people tend to behave in an unacceptable manner because their mind is not able to react to the stimuli from every day life; the name schizophrenia comes from the Greek root "split mind" (Skitzophrenia., n.d.). Hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoia are just some of the...
Words: 2082 - Pages: 9
...The purpose of this assignment is to create an APA formatted reference list for eight articles from reputable sources, and a one paragraph summary for each article selected, and a brief expression of intent on the selected articles. As clearly noted in Creswell (2009) literature review provides the ground work for a preparation of another scientific work. Creswell 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...
Words: 1850 - Pages: 8
...Introduction “More than eighteen states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons operated their prison facilities at more than 100 percent capacity at the end of 2014.” This proves the increasing number of inmates enrolled in prisons is a growing issue. Overcrowding in prisons is caused by extended jail sentences, severe sentencing for drug related offenses, and imprisonment of the mentally ill, which generates inhumane living conditions for inmates. Solutions are relocating drug related offenses and allowing shorter sentences for nonviolent prisoners. Description of Problem Overcrowding in prisons has become a major growing issue in the United States recently. “From 2006 to 2011, prison population grew at 9.5 percent, outpacing the 7 percent growth...
Words: 1160 - Pages: 5
...myths surrounding what a correctional institution is and what it does. Ideally, mentally ill offenders that are assigned to a correctional facility are supposedly “rehabilitated” through such an assignment. However, as a state or sheriff office representatives- we as a community of professional are not at liberty to mistreat other human beings- morally and ethically. Conversely, prison, jail, and correctional environment are different. This is a subculture within a subculture- with its own rules, regulation, and policies for both employee’s and inmates a like. (Mash, 2013, Para. 2) International Association for Correctional Psychology and Forensic (IACFP) standards discussed in chapter 12 of Bartol and Bartol (2012) holds an institutional psychologist responsible for their actions even though the client population are in secure custody, and in most events in segregation. As the authors elaborate on page (pp. 411-413)… “Both jails and prisons… can be violent, noisy… demeaning places that promote isolation, helplessness and subservience through the use of overwhelming power, often by instilling fear”( Bartol and Bartol, 2012, p. 411). In collaboration, all these feelings can help and generate thoughts of suicide, thoughts of inadequacy, lack of self-worth, and loss of humanity. Needless to say, Bartol and Bartol (2012) further state… “Correctional professionals maintain that both jails and prisons also can be operated in a humane fashion and can achieve society’s dual hope protecting...
Words: 1264 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 4562 - Pages: 19
...particular individual or population needs, include treatment options while in prison, discuss the availability and flow of treatment as the individual or population, and discuss the efficacy of treatment...
Words: 1276 - Pages: 6
...Assignment 2: Treatment of Mentally Ill Prisoners 1.0 The Treatment of Mentally Ill Prisoners The treatment of mentally ill inmates has been not only a public concern, but has also been identified by Canada’s Correctional Investigator, Howard Sapers as an issue of concern in his 2014 report to parliament. Between 1997 and 2007, offenders entering the prison system with a mental disorder grew 71% in men and 61% in women (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2012). The problem at hand is that correctional institutes and their staff are not widely trained to deal with inmates who suffer from mental disorders. The result then, is that use-of-force interventions, and placement in solitary confinement, often for extended periods of time, are used as methods of dealing with unruly behaviours exhibited by these mentally ill offenders. While there are various issues surrounding mental health in the Canadian judicial system, for the purpose of this report, the discussion will be focused around inadequate methods for dealing with behaviours presented by these inmates, namely by use-of-force and solitary confinement 1.1 Use-Of-Force Techniques In Sapers 2014 report, it is reported that “28% of all use of force interventions involved an offender with a mental health concern as identified by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC)” (Ministry of Public Safety, 2014). This is likely due to the fact that mentally ill inmates are more likely to self-harm, have unpredictable behaviour...
Words: 1710 - Pages: 7
...George king There are many special needs prisoners, one that many are familiar with are the mentally ill, and substance abusing. In 1955 there weren’t any mental institutions being built, and there were forty that were shut down about a decade ago. As of today there were more prisons opening up, and many people seemed the most qualified to care for and house these patients. Today prisons have taken on the lead role of caring for mentally ill patients, housing 45,000 in prison to 3,000 in mental institutions. Rehabilitation programs are lacking in the mentally ill category, therefore mentally ill prisoners usually return to prison. There are many inmates in prisons that have different special needs. Some of these needs are based on the sex of the inmate. Male’s prisoners have a lot more special needs to take care of their selves as the females prisoners do not. You also have inmates who suffer from a mental illness. Their special needs are much more different than those who have basic needs. People who suffer from substance abuse have needs in the area called addiction. With having these different kinds of individuals it affects the diverse needs, and affects the jails and prisons in various ways. If people were not care for properly there would be negative consequences. There are programs that help the prisoners and also in prisons that allow these prisoners to be cared for in a great way. Some of the prisoner’s special needs are having a physical...
Words: 695 - Pages: 3
...February 18, 2014 Prisoners with Special Needs There are many inmates in prisons that have different special needs. Some of these needs are based on whether the inmates are male or female. Males have some special needs to take care of their selves that females do not and vice versa. Then there are those who suffer from a mental illness. Their special needs are much different than those who have basic needs. People who suffer from substance abuse have needs in the area of addiction. All these different kinds of people with diverse needs effect the jails and prisons in various ways. If people were not cared for properly there would be negative repercussions. There are programs in prisons that allow these prisoners to be cared for properly. There are many special needs prisoners, one that many are familiar with are the mentally ill, and substance abusing. In 1955 there weren’t any mental institutions being built, and there were forty that were shut down about a decade ago. As of today there were more prisons opening up, and many people seemed the most qualified to care for and house these patients. Today prisons have taken on the lead role of caring for mentally ill patients, housing 45,000 in prison to 3,000 in mental institutions. Rehabilitation programs are lacking in the mentally ill category, therefore mentally ill prisoners usually return to prison. There are many inmates in prisons that have different special needs. Some of these needs are based on the sex of...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
..."Dorothea Dix was an indefatigable New England reformer who brought the plight of the mentally ill to the people and governing bodies of several states and foreign countries” (Norbury,1999 p.14). During the seventeenth century most Americans viewed people who were mentally ill differently than other. They were called the lost souls and viewed as incurable and helpless. They were thrown into prison, mistreated, beaten, and taken advantage. It couldn’t be perceived or cured and was simple to be endured. Dorothea Dix wanted to change how these people were treated. She took her time to advocate for the mentally ill. She played an instrumental role, and developed 30 hospitals for the treatment of mental ill. Dorothea Lynde Dix was born on 4 April...
Words: 1310 - Pages: 6