Virginia's Criminal Justice System: Impact on Families & Communities

This essay explores the impact of Virginia's criminal justice system on the welfare of families and communities, focusing on issues such as deinstitutionalization, mental health services, and incarceration rates in areas like Spotsylvania and Stafford. It discusses the shift of responsibility for deinstitutionalized patients from the state to local governments without adequate funding, leading to insufficient behavioral healthcare services. The essay highlights the lack of resources for individuals with mental illness within the criminal justice system and the consequences of this deficiency, including increased arrests and detentions. It also examines the root causes of mental illness prevalence, the disproportionate representation of mentally ill individuals in the legal system, and potential solutions such as improved mental health care and training for legal authorities. Alternative views and the strained relationship between the criminal justice system and mental health are also considered, emphasizing the need for community-based treatment and addressing inequities in law enforcement practices. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar essays and study resources.

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Abstract
Over the past 40 years Virginia has shifted the responsibility for the acts of
deinstitutionalized state patient from the state to the local units of government, without
delivering sufficient funding for the need of behavioral healthcare services in areas of
Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Fredericksburg in Virginia. Several detention centers in Virginia are
devoid of essential treatment services for the people suffering from severe mental illness abusing
offenders in their custody. These services are not purposed to formulate nor aided to supply
adequate behavioral health care services to local defenders in need.

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Introduction
The criminal justice system has been playing a decisive role on the welfare of several
families in the US and its communities. The unyielding boundaries of the system unnecessarily
condenses the persistent avenues as well as living standards of the individuals involved in the
system, and further poses threats to the children who are being raised in homes where one or
both parents have been incarcerated resulting to the ill effects on the quality of life within the
local communities across the nation (Vogel, Stephens & Siebels, 2014). Virginia, like other
states has witnessed an elevation in the rate of defenders over the past decades of this critical
judiciary systematic approach. The thesis statement of this essay is “Virginia’s critical justice
system influencing the welfare of the families and its communities.” The essay explore the way
modern researchers have been aiming to find alternative approaches of handling this system and
the root causes behind this issue and further provide comprehensive insights on the justice
system of the areas in Virginia.
Background
In the criminal justice system which pertains in the areas of Stafford, Orange and other
areas in Virginia the rate of diversion is essentially regarded to the provision of non Incarceration
solutions for the low risk defenders who otherwise would have been incarcerated. Survival rate
of diversion can have its incidence prior to the trial when a suspect who otherwise would have
been imprisoned pending trial is not defended or the following the conviction and sentencing
when a defender otherwise would have been sentenced to imprisonment is provided with another
sentence (Melton et al., 2017). However the Federal government in the US has distinguished
certain rates of incarceration which may fail to be immensely efficient or certain group of

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nonviolent offenders (Slate, Buffington-Vollum & Johnson, 2013). It is significant to note that
the areas in Virginia criminal justice system are devoid of the proficient and effective resources
which can be added to deal with the individuals who have been suffering from mental illness.
However on the other hand, the mental health system is incompetent in comprising the proficient
rate of resources whereby the deficiency of lack of state and community Mental Health Care as
well as facilities result the criminal justice system to be regarded as the last significant option in
order to receive any kind of Mental Health Services (Redlich & Han, 2014). Todd Houck, public
policy officer stated “There are several people in Spotsylvania who are encountering several
mental health crises which we don’t hear about in the daily newspaper due to the lack of
significance given to such events.” A 2012 investigation revealed that around 3% of the public
has been detained for at least one criminal activity whereas around 5% of the public suffering
from bipolar disorders.
Powerful quotes related to the criminal justice policies areas of concern in Virginia has
been the leading edge of criminal justice issues which has involved a session of Mental Health
issues in jails as well as detention centers(Burns, Hiday & Ray, 2013). Significant areas of
limitations pertaining to the cross0secretarial detention Institutions of further facilitates the
collective criminal justice detention and mental health intervention in emotional and community
based manner together an improved system for retaining doors with behavioral health problems
out of the jail and detention centers in the first case(American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Though fair, equal and significantly consistent care towards all individuals under the Virginia
Judiciary system has been recognized as an essential principle of the criminal justice system it
has been noted that in with the absence of public commitment in the justice approach along with
the authority who serve in it the sincere an effective accomplishment of justice system cannot be

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attained (Dennis & Monahan, 2013). Furthermore the criminal justice focus group has been
revealing the areas of concern where by the justice system incapable of providing equal
treatment to all the individuals and Android media has reportedly cited the charges that law
enforcement executive unreasonable food restrictions against the minority groups(Hiday, Wales
& Ray, 2013).
Root causes
Mental illness has become a prevalent issue in the population of the United States with
the propensity for dismal outcomes if there is a lack of identification and treatment. As per the
reports revealed by the United States’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), annual encounters in the sphere of mental health ailment service
centers have undergone a considerable rate of increase by nearly 50% between years 1992-
2000(Baldwin, 2013). The deinstitutionalization of the US mental health care system has shifted
the locus of the psychiatric care from public inpatient institutions to the community-centric
treatment facilities whereby the legal system of the United States (Bond et al., 2015). “In
Stafford such crimes are often been committed by an individual with a record of mental illness.
From the year 2005- 2013, a rate of over 230 murder cases have been recorded in our region,
that has been perceived as a grave situation among the families living here” says Virginia
Powell, an emergency services coordinator who has been in association with Stafford mental
health services for over 10 years .
Furthermore, on the basis of the national prevalence degree, an approximation of over
300,000 Virginia adult age group have been suffering from severe mental disorder since past
decade. Virginia’s funding related to mental health services which has been previously been

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distorted heavily towards the institutional funding (Blue-Howells et al., 2013). Mentally ill
individuals have been inexplicably been represented at varied stages of the criminal legal system.
Furthermore, individuals experiencing severe mental disorders have been disproportionately
focused through the legal system of the US (Redlich & Han, 2014).
Consequences
Though the areas of concern related to mental illness has been widely identified as an
issue in the contemporary society in the United States it has posed considerable rate of
complexities to the lives of the locals residing in areas of Stafford, King George, and
Spotsylvania in Virginia (Keator et al., 2013). The incidence of a wide range of mental disorders
has been considered to be excessively high in the population of the delinquent within the
criminal justice system (Keator et al., 2013). It is further to note that the significance of mental
disorders and criminal justice procedures have absorbent boundaries in regards to the individuals
they serve along with the proficient groups employed to provide services to the section who has
been suffering from mental disability at these regions (Munetz et al., 2014). However, the impact
of one system can posses recurrence to the other system as well, such as the lack of emergency
psychiatric services within the communitarian sector of certain regions in Virginia can result in
the proliferation of more people with serious mental illness being arrested and apprehended
(Blue-Howells et al., 2013). Furthermore, the restricted accessibility of community-centric
treatment further influences the capacity of legal system in order to conform to the judicial
orders which necessitate the release of mentally ill prisoners comprising an immensely inclusive
discharge strategy.
Solution

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However, improved care for mental illness can curtail the flow of criminalization of the
degree of severe mental illness by further retaining more individuals suffering from serious
mental illness. The elevating rate of individuals suffering from mental disabilities within the
local community in the course of the 21st decade has been considered to be immensely decisive
on all stages pertaining to the legal justice system. However, the contact with the police must be
taken into consideration that is regarded as the initial stage of the legal system processes
(Redlich & Han, 2014). Legal authorities are often been perceived as the first and significant
point of contact which includes the imperative and critical situations concerning individuals
suffering from serious mental illness. These authoritative systems determine whether the
individuals must be associated with treatment resources or if they must be detained or processed
(Mental Health America, 2018). Furthermore, in circumstances where individuals have the
propensity to pose threats or harm him or the others (Baldwin, 2013). However, it is important to
note that many involved with the legal system are devoid of proficient training in areas
associated to mental health professionals, may fail to identify the indications related to mental
disorder, thus providing comprehensive explanations to the greater rate of propensity to use
arrest instead of recommending to the community services, specifically to the cases related to
minor crimes or offenses (Bond et al., 2015). It is critical to identify that the legal system has not
been determined and is not equipped to provide inclusive care to the individuals with serious
mental health disorders. Thus, a major section of inmates suffering from mental health issues fail
to receive proper care while being in detention. It has been noted that only one in the three state
detainees along with one in the four federal criminals who suffer from critical mental health
receive proper level of care within the legal system. At this juncture, the current scenario of
Stafford’s development of human services executives plan to provide guarantee that the US has

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been playing a decisive role in the areas of opportunities and lack of resources in order to
accomplish the needs of the locals of Stafford.
Alternate views
The strained association between the criminal justice system and the mental health illness
has been considered to be widespread because of its ranging rate of complexities, structural
deficiencies and lack in the areas related to community-based mental health treatment. The
absence of the proper accessibility to essential treatments and the support from the mental heath
system raises disengagement which separates several individuals suffering lack of emotional
wellbeing from the Virginian community system. (Baldwin, 2013) Thus, the legal system
encounters ill defenders with the increasing rate of occurrence. The reports revealed by the US
Department of Justice state that over 15% of individuals who have been detained reported of
undergoing disorders related to their mental health conditions or are in the need or professional
treatment (Hiday, Wales & Ray, 2013). This further relates to the rate of individuals who have
been suffering mental illness incarcerated. Furthermore, reports revealed by the National
Alliance for the Mentally III (NAMI) demonstrate that around 40% of the adult groups suffer
from a severe rate of mental disorder will be in association with the US criminal justice system at
certain circumstances of their lives (Baldwin, 2013). Following to the persistent impediments
occurring within the public mental health system, certain inequitable practices established by the
law enforcement executives raised the rate of criminalization of such practices related to mental
illness and thus can be attributed to recidivism. However, in some jurisdictions, inappropriate
legal response occurs in community pressures to eradicate the individuals suffering from mental
illness whose behavioral patterns have been perceived as acts of nuisance to the public.
Furthermore, the stigma related to challenges pertaining mental disabilities with violence

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perpetuates ‘the discrimination pertaining in the communities that highlights the role of legal
system to rid of individuals who find areas of pain (Baldwin, 2013). Certain studies have stated
that institutionalization of mental disorders had instigated mass incarceration. However issues
related to the reduction in the availability of bed thereby elevating the rate of risk of
incarceration among the populace suffering from severe mental illness. Reports reveal the
estimated around 20% of defenders suffer from severe mental disorders whereby over 25% of
prison inmates have encounter mental health illness (Hiday, Wales & Ray, 2013). Furthermore,
inmates with devoid of proper medical care show severe symptoms related to high rate of
agitation and paranoia which can be intensified by the critical approach of criminal justice
system in the areas of Virginia (Vogel, Stephens & Siebels, 2014) . Studies on social and
public-health outcomes of incarceration tend to influence the adverse mental and psychosis
outcomes for the individuals who have been in detention. Inhabitants of Stafford, King George,
Spotsylvania with high rate of incarceration occurrence endure disproportionate anxiety as these
communities have a propensity to encounter dislocated social and familial associations with the
pertaining degree of illegal acts and contagious illnesses. However, researchers in recent times
have taken in consideration the way the rates of internment might act as a factor of ecological
variable instead of shaping the behavioral patterns of the inhabitants (Vogel, Stephens & Siebels,
2014). Furthermore, observers explored the rate of mental health consequences of the inhabitants
of Stafford, Orange who have been devoid of any form of effective contact with the criminal
justice system.
Conclusion
Thus it significant to note that strategies to enhance the process of mental care within the
areas of correctional or detention facilities are regarded as approaches to handle a symptom

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rather than the fundamental root cause of the issue. Furthermore, the overrepresentations of the
mentally ill defenders accentuates the incompetence of deinstitutionalization and the failure of
the communities to efficiently handle the individuals suffering from severe mental illness. Thus,
instead of shedding light on the development of the conditions within the areas of correctional
system, an effective approach would be to focus on the rationale of these disorders have been
constrained within the critical boundaries of correctional settings or detention. Furthermore, the
state as well as federal government must effectively evaluate the procedures associated with the
treatment of mental illness which aim to provide care to the sections of people suffering from
severe mental illness.

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