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Our criminal justice system is full of people with mental illness. People with mental illness need more help than just being locked up. We need to increase our focus on helping those individuals and increase our intent in crucial mental health care. We should have compassion and integrity when addressing the subject.

The numbers: CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails.
• About 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness 37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails).
• 66%of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison.
• Nearly one in four people shot and killed by police officers between 2015 and 2020 had a mental health condition.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.
• An estimated 4,000 people with serious mental illness are held in solitary confinement inside U.S. prisons.

COMMUNITIES

• 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition.
• Youth in detention are 10 times more likely to suffer from psychosis than youth in the community.
• About 50,000veterans are held in local jails — 55% report experiencing a mental illness.

ACCESS TO CARE

• About 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons.
• Less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.
• People who have healthcare coverage upon release from incarceration are more likely to engage in services that reduce recidivism. Recidivism is the tendency of a convicted criminal to offend again.

The mentally ill saturate the justice system, this is known as the “criminalization of the mentally ill”. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• Lack of resources

We need to raise awareness and utilize resources to handle people with mental illness in the court systems.

• Symptoms of mental illness

Some symptoms of mental illness, such as erratic behavior, can be considered antisocial or even criminal.

• Complex problems

People with mental illness may also have other problems that increase the risk of offending, such as poverty, substance abuse, or abuse.

• Incarceration can increase symptoms

Incarceration can make mental health symptoms worse, which can lead to longer stays in jail or prison.

• Barriers to reentry

After release from prison, people with mental illness may face barriers to reentering the community, such as a lack of housing, education, or health care.

Some interventions for people with mental illness in the justice system include:

• Forensic hospitals

Individuals may be detained in a forensic hospital or unit while awaiting sentencing or instead of jail or prison.

• Minimizing justice system response
• Alternative support systems

Some say that there needs to be an alternative support system to judicial authority that can provide the help that people with mental illness need.

I truly believe there is a time and a place for the mentally ill to be held accountable. We all need to accept our punishment to crime, whether mentally ill or not. These are some considerations that can help in the determination of sentencing and follow through in the justice system. I think we can accomplish both goals while using consideration and dignity to the mentally ill.

• Psychiatric Illness and Criminality – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

People with mental illness are arrested and sent to prison in disproportionate numbers.

NCBI

• Criminalization of People with Mental Illness – NAMI

Where We Stand. NAMI believes in minimizing justice system response to people with mental illness.

NAMI

• About Criminal and Juvenile Justice | SAMHSA

May 24, 2024 — People with mental and substance use disorders are over-represented in the justice system.

SAMHSA

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.