Film Analysis: The New Asylums

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4/1/2013 The New Asylums Prisons are now housing more than 500,000 mentally ill inmates across the nation. Many of these inmates are classified as severely mental ill and fit the psychiatric classification for major illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anti social personality disorder and many more. The question is why are so many clinically ill individuals who should be receiving medical care from medical facility being placed behind bars. Many believe that increase in mentally ill inmates is due to major policy shifts over the past few decades. one of these major shifts spurs from the decision made in 1950 to close many of the mental hospitals throughout the nation. the initial goal was to move the patients from the hospital to a community based mental health care system. the belief was that these individuals would do better in a care setting that that focuses on and can hand their specific needs. the idea fell through the gutters mainly due to lack of funding and commitment to the cause. the second major shift in the rise of mental ill inmates was due to stricter sentencing laws implemented in the 1980's and 1990's. Many of the people who are in prison now, may have not have convicted, or convicted as severely as years before.…show more content…
As shown in the film, the hospital setting where the focus is on treatment, support and help, proved to be the most beneficial. most of the correction guards, except at maximum security prisons, do not know how to deal with these individuals. the mentally ill who committed only minor crimes, such as snatching of a purse as seen of the film end up being placed in maximum security prisons where they are left in confinement all day potentially making their mental disease worse. Funding, support, and organization is the only way that mentally ill individuals can receive the help they

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