Summary Of The Tragic Case Of Ashley Smith

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In a system meant to rehabilitate, the tragic case of Ashley Smith sheds light on the dreadful consequences of neglecting mental health support in correctional facilities, this essay will critically examine Ashley’s case as we delve into the alarming lack of mental health support she received while in custody. Ashley Smith, a Canadian teenager who was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, started acting out at the age of 14, as she got older her offences kept increasing to the point where she was in and out of youth court more than a dozen times (The Fifth Estate, 2016). Since Ashley was on probation, her incarceration time didn’t take too long to be met. Ashley threw crabapples at the mailman, which landed her a one-month sentence that would stretch …show more content…

Ashley’s journey with the Canadian prison system showed that she was fighting her mental health, but the prison didn’t meet the standards on providing the proper care she needed, although she was diagnosed early on as a teen before entering incarceration, with a learning disability, behavioural issues, impulsivity and not understanding the consequences that an institution should look for when handling these types of offenders. Despite all the effort her parents were to give, Ashley still did not receive genuine support or intervention for her needs to be met, which resulted in her mental disorder to progress. As Ashley kept getting older and the system kept getting irritable with her stay, her mental health kept decreasing. The extensive use of solitary confinement, as studies show, can increase psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, and aggression (Strong, J. D., Reiter, K., Gonzalez, G., Tublitz, R., Augustine, D., Barragan, M., Chesnut, K., Dashtgard, P., Pifer, N., & Blair, T. R, …show more content…

Instead of providing therapeutic interventions and support, prisons often rely on punitive measures such as solitary confinement, restraints, and use of force, which can further traumatize and destabilize vulnerable individuals. Ashley's repeated exposure to these punitive tactics only served to escalate her distress and exacerbate her mental health issues. Inadequate Staff Training: Another contributing factor to Ashley's deteriorating mental health was the lack of adequate training for prison staff in recognizing and addressing mental health needs. Correctional officers are often ill-equipped to handle complex mental health issues, leading to inappropriate responses and interventions. Without proper training in de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care, staff may resort to punitive measures instead of providing the compassionate support and assistance that individuals like Ashley desperately need. Systemic Failures in Mental Health Care: Ashley's case also exposes systemic failures in the provision of mental health care within Canadian prisons. Despite policies and guidelines aimed at ensuring access to mental health services for incarcerated individuals, these services are often underfunded, understaffed, and poorly coordinated. As a result, individuals

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