Prison and Mental Health Reform

Policing 1
Prison and Mental Health Reform
by (Student’s Name)
Professor’s Name
Institution
Location of Institution
Course
Date
Policing

Policing 2
There are a number of individuals in the prisons and jails with mental illness, and this has
stimulated a policy concern in every particular aspect of the justice system. The justice system is
considered to strain especially when it is compelled to respond to the individuals with mental
illness, and this should be in a manner which is considered to be therapeutic and clinical. One
of the measures which can be taken by the criminal justice system in response to individuals with
mental illness in the prisons entails the police practice which involves discretionary decisions
which are made in the justice system. Based on the recent statistics, there is a huge number of
individuals with mental disorder in prison. Such a number has been attributed to a variety of
reasons.
Also, the individuals with mental illness are at a low income level hence they tend to
commit huge crimes. The other reason is that an individual with mental illness usually consume
more alcohol and this leads to addiction. The consumption of alcohol is one of the major factors
for crimes committed and violence. The current justice system contains laws and policies which
are used in the handling of individuals with mental illness in the prisons and theses are discussed
in the paper as is indicated below.
There are a number of common law principles which offers rationale for the police to
play a role in protecting the mental illness. Some of the principles include the authority and
power which are both aimed at protecting the welfare and safety of the society and this also
includes protecting the particular persons with disabilities. A key responsibility of the police is
gatekeeping in which they make certain decisions relating to the mental illness who comes into
the criminal justice system.
Often the society has had a negative attitude towards the mental illness, and this has
therefore created social stigma which has been associated with discrimination and mental illness

Policing 3
which makes it difficult for individuals with mental illness to recover from the illness. Also, the
social stigma which has been associated with the mental illness have often resulted in
discrimination among the individuals with mental illness in every particular aspect of their lives
resulting to depression, anxiety and stress among others. Apart from the society which has
caused the social stigma among the individuals with mental illness, the employers, friends and
families have also contributed to the social stigma among the mental illness.
Based on the most recent study, it was found out that about nine out of ten of the
individuals with mental illness have indicated that the discrimination and social stigma has
resulted in certain negative implications in their lives. Generally, the individuals with mental
illness cannot perform a number of activities like a normal individual does and these include,
living in a decent house, being in a long-term relationship, getting employment and being
socially included in the various activities of the community.
Treatment of Mentally Disordered Persons by the Society
According to Fairweather, Sanders, Cressler and Maynard (2017 p.34), the society, in
general, has a variety of views on mental illness and this has various implications on different
individuals with mental illness. For example, there are a number of people in the society who
believes that the individuals with mental illness are dangerous and violent. It, therefore, implies
that there are high chances of such individuals attacking or harming themselves than the other
people in the society. Therefore discrimination and social stigma placed upon the individuals
with mental illness could result into worsening of different problems related to mental illness.
They may also lead to the delay in recovery and treatment of such a person (Goffman, 2017
p.50).

Policing 4
Factors such as poverty, unemployment, social isolation and poor housing are associated
with mental illness. Apart from the above mentioned effects, social discrimination and stigma
can cause a series of illness which may be difficult for a person with mental illness to recover
from. The society must therefore change their perceptions on the individuals with mental illness
(Cockerham, 2016 p.70). According to research which was conducted, one of the essential way
to change the stereotype views of the society on the individual with mental illness would be
first by contacting the individuals who have an experience with the problems associated with
mental illness. Another way to change the views of the society concerning mental illness is
through campaigns both at the local and national level should be carried out with the aim of
changing the attitudes of the public on mental illness (Ross, 2017 p.100).
Treatment of Mentally Disordered Persons by the Criminal Justice System
The number of individuals with mental health has increased over the years, and this is
based on the statistics of the criminal justice system. The mental illness condition has caused an
increase in different costs such as health, fiscal and human resource. The criminal justice system
should work together with the leaders of the mental health system to provide support with the
aim of enhancing the outcomes of the individuals with mental illness while in prisons. The
criminal justice system should allow people with mental illness in the prisons to access various
mental health services (Torrey et al.2014 p.4). The services could be offered through the
provision of care to the mental offenders which is to be done by the mental health professionals
in the prisons who would come to check often on the progress of such individuals.
Also, the mental illness offenders are to be placed together with the others, and this is to
help in avoidance of social discrimination and stigma which could worsen their state by resulting
in different effects such as depression, anxiety and stress. Additionally, the criminal justice