ePortfolio Article #1
ENGL 202D
Eric Hooper
9-27-2022
New Hope for the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System.
Cell View – Source: Pexels, Jimmy Chan
This article, Field weighs in on criminal justice issues impacting people with mental illness, written by author Valerie Canady, brings to light an issue that has been plaguing our criminal justice system for many decades. Mental illness, which also has links to drug abuse and other addictive actions, has our prison systems and jails overflowing. People with mental illness, rather than being placed in facilities with criminals which will most certainly worsen their conditions, need placement in areas that can help their conditions rather than cast away.
U.S. Mental health Crisis:
Canady, the author states that lawmakers have introduced a bill to the House that would allow states to begin expanding treatments for mental illness and accompanying disorders up to thirty days prior to their release from jails or prisons. The bill would also allow these people the use of medicaid to support their treatment and allow them to properly afford it. One of my main thoughts after reading this article is that I feel this issue is finally being noticed due to the major mental health crisis our country is currently facing. As stated in the article by Canady there are now calls from the legal and advocacy communities to make the government recognize the imprisonment of these persons and assist in attempts to help them by providing them services such as community based services and treatment up to 30 days after their release from jails or prisons. If this is achieved I feel that not only will this assist in reducing the future imprisonment of offenders but it will also begin to lower the stigma that is surrounding people getting or seeking help for their mental health issues.
Recidivism:
During my class studies I have been taught that most often offenders tend to recidivate, or return to prison/commit more crime, after being placed into prison. Around two thirds of all convicted offenders will be rearrested and/or placed back into a prison or jail. With the intended legislation (H.R. 1329) brought to light in this article by Canady, it will include access to substance abuse treatment and treatment accessible through the use of medicaid 30 days prior to the release of said person from a prison or jail. I believe if treatment begins to be provided to those imprisoned and non serious offenders with mental illness are placed in facilities or community based treatments designed to help their mental illnesses. This will in turn allow for many to not be introduced into criminal correctional facilities. Similarly as stated by Canady in the article this bill will also benefit any others incarcerated so that they will have a better chance to deal with their needs once they re-enter the community. In turn I think this will allow for our prison populations to decrease significantly if they are able to avoid prisons and jails. This will allow them to not be introduced and wish to partake in further crime and allow them to avoid introductions to real criminals that may convince them to do further illegal actions.
Addiction:
Lastly, addictions tend to accompany mental illnesses and as stated by the author Valerie Canady:
“H.R. 1329 is responding to alarming evidence that individuals re-entering society after incarceration are 129 times more likely than the general population to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks post-release” – Valerie Canady.
Although not directly stated by the author, I and many others within the field of Criminal Justice know that many people who are suffering from mental illness will resort to drugs, alcohol or other forms of coping mechanisms as a form of self treatment. With this issue in mind it is no wonder why they can easily be introduced into correctional facilities due to the criminal behaviors that are linked to drugs and sometimes alcohol. Likewise with the opioid crisis we are also facing and the mass influx of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics flooding our streets it seems that it will become easier and easier for people to seek and use these dangerous drugs as a way out for their mental issues they may be facing. Similarly, with drug overdose deaths on the rise this should be another reason for our government to take step to recognize and support mental health treatment for people within correctional facilities, average everyday citizens, and veterans who have seen the worst and can struggle immensely with issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety upon leaving the military and many other issues. If the stigma around seeking help is removed than I feel that we will see a reduction in imprisonment, drug use, overdose, and suicide within communities where mental illness can be common.
I am very hopeful for the future of mental illness and mental health in general. I feel that since there is an ongoing mental health crisis in the United States, advocacy groups seeking rehabilitation for mental health sufferers in prisons and jail, veterans beginning to speak out about the issues they face, and the de-stigmatization of seeking help for ones mental health issues we will see an overall reduction in crime, suicide, and both self medication with drugs and alcohol or medications provided by doctors and other health institutions. However these issues, primarily in terms of federal means within prison and jails, lie within the decisions and actions of the government and if there are no meaningful steps to better our correctional system there may be little change within the area of Criminal Justice.
October 20, 2022 at 10:28 pm
I thought this article was amazing. This topic is very important but not talked about enough within society. Often prisoners’ needs are overlooked after they are sentenced. I agree that if treatment is provided during incarceration, it could prevent them from recidivating. Also, mentioning that it is common for people to abuse substances in order to deal with mental illness, which can lead to criminal behavior, clearly laid out the road to incarceration for some people. This is not always understood. I was surprised to read that there is new legislation in process to provide inmates with substance abuse treatment prior to release. From what I’ve learned, there is more treatment provided after inmates are released. I hope you write more about the new changes in the criminal justice field.
October 23, 2022 at 8:22 pm
Overall great article, and very great to read. I never thought to stop and think about the mental health of people being released from jail. Your article has made me learn to start thing about how a person’s mental health is that has been released from jail. When I was younger, I was kinda close with someone who had been in prison for over 7 years and he would tell me stories about what goes on in prison. And some of the things he experienced would definitely affect someone’s mental health. I hope that you do great in your endeavors in the criminal justice field.
October 23, 2022 at 9:27 pm
This topic is one that has been a problem the last few years and I feel that it has gotten worse due to the pandemic and being locked inside. I was not aware that legislation was discussing about expanding and helping the mental illness for to help decrease jail numbers. My only worry about that would be how much tax money would be used to support it. I like the idea of helping the individual with the mental illness 30 days before they are released, and this could show treatment employees if that individual is ready to go back into the community. The increasing of addiction is something that should be paid more attention to and will help alleviate the criminal numbers. Best of luck in the criminal justice field and keep paying attention to this topic.
October 24, 2022 at 12:01 pm
I loved the article that you chose to blog about! As I am in the criminal justice field, it has always caught my attention and interest reading about the criminal justice system. I agree with your perception to the article as well in the needs for more of a rehabilitation and help to the prisoners instead of just throwing them in jail where they will only learn more about committing crime. With that, I am hopeful that change will be coming soon based on the article, in that the mentally ill prisoners are getting treatment they need and not just tossed in jail, also people that aren’t mentally ill should be receiving help along the way as well. I did not know about this until I read your article and I completely agree that mental illness definitely needs to be taken care of! I enjoyed the route you took in the article and look forward to more just like this one!