Posted: September 7th, 2024

Mental Illness Among Offenders

Mental Illness Among Offenders

Introduction
While the media is always covering news on crime and prisons, many aspects of prison life are misconstrued in the eye of the public (Rankin, 2005). One of those aspects is on offenders with mental illnesses. There is a substantial number of both men and women who suffer from major psychiatric disorders such as acute depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Many of these offenders have a myriad of developmental disabilities that compound the illnesses consistently and more often than not, one is dealing with the physical and psychic injuries from family violence. Additionally, including substance abuse as a significant battle for these individuals, then it becomes easy to have individuals occupying the lowest positions on different aspects and maintain a very weak position on the social ladder.
The Increasing Population of Offenders with Mental illness
A report by the Bureau of Justice indicted that 56%, 45% and 64% of offenders in state prisons, federal prisons and jails have shown a recent history of the signs of a mental health disorder (Vanderloo $ Butters, 2012). Research by Steadman et al. (2009), would find that 14.5% and 31.0% of males and females did qualify to be diagnosed for a severe mental ailment. These findings by Steadman were similar to the results of Fazel and Danesh (2002). The latter’s results reported an estimated 3.7% and 4% of male and female inmates respectively, with a psychotic illness diagnosis (Vanderloo & Butters, 2012). Additionally, 10% and 12% of male and female inmates respectively had a diagnosis of acute depression (Vanderloo & Butters, 2012). It would be stated that an estimated one in seven offenders in the western countries either have a psychotic illness or major depression.
For the past seven years, statistics have indicated that the numbers of individuals with mental illness are increasing. These numbers are stated to have grown by 80% in terms of the inmates who have been admitted into CSC facility and taking prescription medicine for mental illnesses. Over the same time, an increase of 61% has also been en moted in terms of the number of inmates who during admission, have reported dealing with a psychiatric diagnosis (Rankin, 2005)Different regions have treatment centres to handle the offenders with serious mental ailments. Considering the increased numbers, a treatment centre in Ontario admits the patients on a priority basis while the others wait for their turns in parent institutions. The prison life also does not make it easy for them since the more able prisoners easily prey on them (Rankin, 2005). This leads to the mentally ill individuals being segregated for their protection so they could withdraw into themselves or even act in aggressive manners. It becomes challenging for the mentally ill offender to fight and heal from their diagnosis in the harsh prison environment. Through the numbers and experiences, they illustrate a challenge that prison systems have to deal with the major solution being availing adequate and proper treatment strategies.
Treatment for Offenders with Mental Illness
Currently, psychiatric rehabilitation has been a treatment option for offenders with mental illnesses. This form of rehabilitation looks at the individuals as the main players responsible for ensuring they receive the required services needed to recover and develop to their fullest capacities (Morgan et al., 2012). The development is achieved through learning and environmental support. Psychiatric’s rehabilitation goal is enabling individuals to have independent lives through compensation or elimination of the functional deficits.
The treatment intervention entails an array of services such as educational, social and community support to aid the individuals to improve their functionalities and become more independent. The main services in psychiatric rehabilitation that have proven to be effective include: Collaborative psychopharmacology, assertive community treatment, family psychoeducation, supported employment, illness management and recovery, and finally, the integrated dual disorders treatment (Morgan et al., 2012).
Notably, many of the offenders with mental illnesses illustrate similar risk factors for criminal activity as those without mental disorders (Peterson & Heiz, 2016). Therefore, it is possible to have interventions that handle the indirect routes to crime to help offenders with mental illness. The offenders with mental illness are more likely to leave the correction facility with a supply of medication that will last for about one to four weeks and also leaves with contact information for mental health care (Peterson & Heinz, 2016). Therefore, to cease the revolving door of the criminal justice system, then they should be involved in reentry programs to potentially improve their transition process back into the community from prison.
Some of the models for the reentry programs that will aid the offenders include integrating them into the transition teams. These teams are responsible for providing an assessment of needs, planning for releases and coordination of agencies. The agencies include health, substance abuse, parole, among others. They also aid in making applications for them for essential services such as insurance, housing and disability (Peterson & Heinz, 2016). It is important for these interventions also to have offers such as vocational training, halfway housing and cognitive behavioural treatments to improve the effectiveness of the program for the offenders with mental illnesses.
Professionals’ Perceptions Of Offenders with Mental illness
It is important for the professionals working in social work and criminal justice majors hold positive perceptions towards the offenders with mental illness to incorporate improved treatment options while still being compassionate (Weaver at al., 2019). Notably, many of the professionals in the criminal justice field and also the mental health systems are expected to do more with limited resources. Nonetheless, the improved environment that allows deinstitutionalization in both of these fields provides essential opportunities to incorporate community-based models to prevent and manage psychiatric treatment for the offenders.
The huge cuts to these community programs, including the funds from Medicaid, will increasingly put pressure on them (Weaver et al., 2019). However, the involved workers need to work together to meet the needs of the affected population. They could deploy community models that are effective even with the limited funds. For the research and developers in this field, they need to engage in rigorous and robust studies to evaluate distinct approaches and come up with better models for implementation. The models should be of quality and evidence-based (Weaver et al., 2019). The challenges and the opportunities can all be defeated through true compassion and empathy towards the affected victims, including the victims with mental illness.
Conclusion
The numbers of offenders with mental illness continue to increase in correctional facilities. It is only prudent for the criminal justice systems, and mental health professionals come with intervention models to help these individuals. Notably, while some studies have pointed out some effective intervention programs, it is important to understand that one-size-fits-all models may fail to work in different settings. Extensive research and evaluation should be done to come up with intervention programs that will help each individual enrolled in the programs.

References
Morgan, R. D., Flora, D. B., Kroner, D. G., Mills, J. F., Varghese, F., & Steffan, J. S. (2012). Treating offenders with mental illness: A research synthesis. Law and human behavior, 36(1), 37.
Peterson, J., & Heinz, K. (2016). Understanding Offenders with Serious Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System. Mitchell Hamline L. Rev., 42, 537.
Rankin, B. (2005). Treating offenders with mental disorders. Retrieved from https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions-criminal-justice-vol2/treating-offenders-mental-disorders
Vanderloo, M.J. & Butters, R.P. (2012). Treating Offenders with Mental Illness: A Review of the Literature. Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah.
Weaver, C., Lee, J., Choi, H., Johnson, W. W., & Clements, C. (2019). Offenders living with mental illness: How are they perceived by future professionals?. Journal of Social Work, 19(1), 83-101.

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