Moore_Midterm

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Erica Moore Erica Moore CJ 510: Mental Health and Justice Policy Prof. Matesanz June 20 th , 2023 Midterm Exam: Option 2 Individuals who struggle with mental illness are among the most marginalized people in our society, and when they encounter the criminal justice system, they frequently have worse outcomes than others. They are more likely to commit suicide, end up in solitary confinement, and have a lower chance of getting out on parole (Roth, 2020). Many people now receive their primary mental health care in jail or prison. The unending restrictions and the harsh way many officials address convicts make jails and prisons dehumanizing environments. In some mental health facilities, where many people are either aggressive or entirely unresponsive, there is a solid division between the prisoners and the officers or, more accurately, the prisoners and the rest of us (Roth, 2020). Not only are prisoners with mental illnesses more likely to experience aggression from others, but they are also more likely to attempt to commit suicide than prisoners without mental illnesses (Slate et al., 2021). Compared to the outside world, prisons, and jails have much higher rates of suicide, with hanging being the most common method (Roth, 2020). This is probably due to a combination of factors, including past treatment failures or treatment rejection, in addition to the refusal to seek care. It is undeniably challenging to deal with this group and disorder combination (Slate et al., 2021). Although many factors contribute to potential suicide attempts in jails and prisons, overcrowding is one of the main ones. The United States has long struggled with a significant capacity issue. Both funding and leadership prepared to prioritize mental health care are 1

Erica Moore necessary for its success in correctional facilities (Roth, 2020). However, in many locations, the reality is far from that due to the constant strain of cost containment, overcrowding, understaffing, and, in some situations, a lack of will. Basic living conditions are exceedingly unpleasant in an overcrowded facility. These pressures might be significantly harsher for those who have a mental illness (Roth, 2020). This can be seen in particular in female detainees. Research has revealed that female inmates are particularly vulnerable to circumstances in jail or prison, and they experience mental illness at even higher rates than their male colleagues across the nation. The shift away from rehabilitation has also been accelerated by overcrowding (Roth, 2020). Too many people in an institution frequently make maintaining even the most basic services impossible. A jail or prison's capacity is determined by more than simply whether there is adequate room for all inmates. There must also have enough staff to care for them. One of the issues in state psychiatric facilities was indeed a persistent lack of skilled staff (Roth, 2020). When there are not enough correctional officers to maintain order, stricter security, and disciplinary measures are required to keep things under control. Issues with overcrowding and understaffing may also make it difficult to manage medications properly, causing patients to receive less frequent or no checks on their drugs (Roth, 2020). Research shows that staff members' regular supervision is the best defense against suicide. It is crucial to keep an inmate under close supervision, especially if they are placed in isolation and especially under dangerous circumstances. However, it is uncommon to be able to maintain proper constant monitoring due to understaffing and increased demands brought on by overcrowding (Slate et al., 2021). Because of this, most jails only do 15-minute checks or, increasingly, camera surveillance. However, a committed convict can commit suicide in just a few minutes, giving them plenty of time between checks (Slate et al., 2021). While it might seem ideal to have camera surveillance, this 2

Erica Moore technology is constrained by blind spots in the isolation room's physical setup, aside from camera operators who get bored or distracted. A case-by-case consideration of risk should ultimately be used to determine the level of monitoring, and video surveillance should never be the only monitoring method (Slate et al., 2021). Another factor that can contribute to potential suicide attempts in jail is stigma. People with mental illnesses are frequently prevented from publicly recognizing their condition due to the stigma placed on them by our culture. Even today, people with severe mental illnesses still confront numerous obstacles to thriving in society (Slate et al., 2021). Sigma plays a role in various difficulties faced by people with mental illness, such as poverty, unemployment, housing, and individuals choosing not to seek mental health treatment. The recurring patterns of abuse and inadequate care towards this population show that mental illness has always been stigmatized (Slate et al., 2021). People who carry the stigma cannot fully integrate into society because they cannot follow the norms that society has established as standards. The people considered normal in society treat stigma-bearers as outcasts and create negative, debunked prejudices about the stigmatized group of people. Experts agree that stigmas towards persons with mental illness are more widely accepted among Americans than stigmas against people with other disorders, such as physical disabilities (Slate et al., 2021). People with mental disorders in the criminal justice system experience a double stigma: they are stigmatized for their diseases and their involvement in the system. Discrimination creates a self-reinforcing, vicious cycle and can be found in employment, education, housing, medical, and mental health care. This creates even more disadvantages for a group of people already at a disadvantage (Slate et al., 2021). Due to internalized structural and societal stigma, people with mental illness fail to explore opportunities and resources. They frequently feel worthless, unable, and hopeless about 3

Erica Moore accomplishing their goals after years of being indoctrinated with the same mental disease stereotypes that the rest of the population is subjected to (Slate et al., 2021). Without a doubt, these events and the related internalized stigma have a significant role in self-destructive behaviors, including associated drug abuse and increased suicide rates. The creation of effective programs, including those that improve cooperation between the criminal justice and mental health systems, is hampered by such institutional and public stigma. There are. Nevertheless, some intriguing approaches and additional study is required (Slate et al., 2021). I think more inclusive policies based on evidence-based practices can be implemented as organizations like NAMI and Florida's Partners in Crisis (2012) fight to promote modifications in behavioral health treatment and tear down the stigma-created walls. While many of the solutions may very well be found in government-sponsored programs, lasting change can only be achieved by community involvement, which includes private sector commitments, which have a crucial role to play (Slate et al., 2021). The challenge of treating mental diseases is frequently brought to the public's attention by news coverage of incidents involving people with mental illnesses. Creating and maintaining collaborative partnerships is critical to finding solutions to the problems affecting people with mental illness (Slate et al., 2021). While no precise prevalence figures are given, several academics have examined a range of psychological traits of those who commit jail suicide, including confinement. Some prisoners are merely unprepared to deal with the typical stresses of incarceration. When someone is first locked up in jail, their stress may only be associated with their fear of the unknown and their separation from their family (Slate et al., 2021). However, as time goes on, this stress may worsen, including loss of outside relationships, conflicts within the institution, victimization, additional legal frustration, physical and emotional breakdown, and difficulties adjusting to life 4

Erica Moore in jail. Suicidal thoughts, attempts, or completion might occur if the inmate experiences an emotional breakdown. Severe mental illness causes people to serve lengthier sentences in prison for various reasons, the most obvious of which is that these conditions are detrimental to their ability to function (Slate et al., 2021). First off, while incarceration is stressful for everyone, it is incredibly challenging for people with major mental illnesses, especially those who enter jail in a crisis, have been off their meds for an extended period, and have used drugs and alcohol excessively soon before being arrested. Those with severe mental illness are especially vulnerable to irregular eating and sleeping schedules and excessive sensory stimulation (Slate et al., 2021). Although isolation used to be the recommended course of action in jails for dealing with suicidal ideation, Hayes (2000) and others have argued against it since it frequently leads to more suicide attempts, especially in the first 48 hours. However, this type of intervention is still regularly utilized in American prisons, often just as a place to confine mentally ill inmates. It is well recognized that solitary confinement, administered as punishment at the discretion of the jail or prison personnel, can aggravate or even cause mental illness (Slate et al., 2021). As a type of further punishment for inmates who have broken regulations or are otherwise regarded to have misbehaved, it is typically utilized at the discretion of corrections officials because someone determined that the prisoner was a danger to the facility (Roth, 2020). Because of this, solitary confinement disproportionately attracts inmates with mental illnesses while also making many regular convicts unwell. Additionally, solitary is expensive, costing states up to two or three times as much per prisoner as regular confinement. However, since the early nineteenth century, when the modern US jail system began, convicts have been housed in isolation cells (Roth, 2020). Administrators should consider employing more officers or putting other prisoners in isolation cells with inmates when staff-to-inmate ratios are at their lowest to prevent suicides. 5

Erica Moore Suicide is effectively prevented by simple social interaction. Convicts are less likely to attempt suicide if housed in a dormitory or a shared cell with other convicts. However, jail officials should never rely on other inmates to protect a suicidal inmate, as this does not replace qualified staff surveillance (Slate et al., 2021). Additionally, having good working connections with officers and employees can undoubtedly act as a deterrent to inmate suicide. Jail employees who know each inmate personally and are aware of significant life events are better equipped to recognize when an inmate's attitude or conduct changes. For jail officials to learn how to identify and deal with suicide inmates, jails should implement a thorough training program with ongoing instruction. At the very least, officers should be educated on crisis intervention tactics, de- escalation strategies, theories of jail suicide, and risk factors for suicide (Slate et al., 2021). Many people get their initial or primary mental health treatment in jail or prison. There is a clear separation between the inmates and the general populace. Prisoners with mental diseases are more likely to attempt suicide than prisoners without mental illnesses, and to encounter hostility from other inmates. Overcrowding is one of the primary causes of probable suicide attempts in jails and prisons. The prison’s success depends on leadership prioritizing mental health care and enough financing. The ongoing pressure of cost containment, overcrowding, and understaffing means that the reality is far from that goal. The correct management of pharmaceuticals may also be troubled by issues with overcrowding and understaffing, resulting in patients receiving fewer or no drug screenings. The stigma that people with mental illness experience contributes to several of the challenges they confront. In the criminal justice system, people with mental illnesses face two types of stigma: for their illnesses and for their involvement with the criminal justice system. Discrimination exists in employment, education, housing, and medical and mental health care, and it breeds a vicious circle that reinforces itself. 6

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