MENTAL

ILLNESS IN JAILS
AND PRISONS
-ASHLEY COATS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Slide 3. The new asylum

Slide 4. The costly price tag
Slide 5. Suicide rates
Slide 6. Behavior problems
Slide 7. Conclusion
Slide 8. References
THE NEW ASYLUMS

Jail is now being known by many as the new asylum

http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3695
Jails are now home to more mentally ill then psychiatric hospitals in the U.S.
Estimated 15% of inmates in the U.S. are mentally ill.
Between 55 and 76% of inmates in segregation are diagnosed as mentally ill.
THE COSTLY PRICE TAG

The stay for the mentally ill is often longer than those without a mental illness.
According to
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/backgrounders/how%20many%20indivi
duals%20with%20serious%20mental%20illness%20are%20in%20jails%20and%20prisons%20final.pdf
In Florida housing a mentally ill inmates cost on average $130 per day compared to $80.
The price for medications daily can easily cost more than there meals.
SUICIDE RATES

Suicidal tendency's among mentally ill are growing daily in jails and prisons.
About 77% of mentally ill attempt suicide behind bars. (about 15%)
Isolation and lack of communication can cause many to develop depression.
Prison is not made to house mentally ill so it can be hard for jails to accommodate them.
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Jail inmates with mental illness act out often causing problems with authorities .
Often they are not able to think clearly due to there illness.
Often having bipolar or anger issues, makes it hard for staff to accommodate to there
personal needs.
Mentally unstable Inmates tend to be more violent towards staff and other inmates.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4232131/
CONCLUSION

In conclusion the percentage of mentally ill inmates is higher than mentally not
in jail. The cost per day to house one of these inmates is almost double the cost
of non ill inmates. Acting out and becoming a danger to themselves and others
causes more ill patients to be put into solitary confinement. These inmates make
up for most of the suicidal attempts and success behind bars. Many people
placed behind bars need to have access to hospitals that can help them mentally
and get more individual help.
REFERENCES

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4232131/
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/backgrounders/how%20many%20indivi
duals%20with%20serious%20mental%20illness%20are%20in%20jails%20and%20prisons%20final.pdf
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3695