Mentally Ill In Prison Essay

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reported in 2005 that 62.2% of mentally ill inmates had been formally charged with breaking the rules since admission, compared to 51.9% of the general population (Adams & Ferrandino, Managing Mentally Ill Inmates in Prisons, 2008). At the same time, the mentally ill are more vulnerable to assault, sexual assault, exploitation, and extortion from other inmates. 36% reported being involved in a fight since admission, for example, compared to 25% of other inmates (Adams & Ferrandino, Managing Mentally Ill Inmates in Prisons, 2008). With statics showing the mentally ill are more receptive to engaging in additional criminal like activity upon admission, and are highly likely to become victims, action should

(Ball, 2006). The result is that mentally ill prisoners get sicker, say longer, suffer more- and wind up back in prison soon after they are released (Ball, 2006). This lack of clearance and improper implementation, has clearly negatively affected the housed mentally ill. We all have family members who suffer from different forms of mental illnesses, and if they happened to get imprisoned; due to the acts of going against the norms of society, proper care and help would be all we wanted for them. But it is also clear that, that help would not be properly administrated properly in a general population.
Mentally ill prisoners serve, on average, 15 months longer for the same crimes as those who do not suffer from mental illnesses. Their illness prevents them from engaging in prison programs that results in the acquisition of “good time” credit, meaning that they serve a greater percentage of their sentences (Ball, 2006). If properly treated in their own specialized institution, mentally ill inmates may not have to serve the full length of the sentences placed onto them. And just like other prisoners, they may be able to shorten their sentences by being granted “good