Mental Illness And Recidivism: A Case Study

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Since the 1970s, severe mental illness has been directly linked to the criminal justice system. The majority of the research on this relationship, however, has focused on measures of mental illness among the incarcerated, with fewer studies focusing on the community-dwelling severely mentally ill and their experiences with arrest and incarceration. Little is known about the crime victims’ experiences or period of homelessness. This population is often victimized by the criminal justice system and little assistance for treatment and stable housing is assessable. Reasons for the link between mental illness and recidivism have been argued for many years. These victims lack the services, case management and extended treatment that decrease…show more content…
On a yearly basis, 12 million black men and women cycle in and out of nearly 3500 jails and prison (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). In 2008, 785,556 individuals were incarcerated at midyear, up from an average of daily population of 403,000 in 1990. Of the 2008 population, 42.5% were white men and 39% were black men, even though of the total U.S. population only about 6% were black men while 28% were white men (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). Socio-economic status is a major factor in recidivism among the homeless mentally ill population (Solomon and Draine, 1995). Many mentally ill ex-offenders have limited resources prior to going to prison and upon release. The lack of on-going treatment and case management often times result in recidivism. Offending to secure basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, protection from the elements) is a typical reason for committing crimes. By having a natural support system upon release to ensure these basic needs and mental health treatment are met, this population can go on to lead productive lives and recidivism will decrease. Case management can provide job training, mental health services and the opportunity to link ex-offenders to needed services (Spjeldnes & Yamatani,…show more content…
It is likewise important that mental health workers understand the process of behavior change and are skilled in using motivational interviewing and behavioral strategies to promote treatment. These competencies can result in the establishment of a positive therapeutic relationship, a strong indicator of health outcomes mental illnesses (Whitbeck, Chen, & Hoyt, 2004). In addition, workers should also be knowledgeable about the criminal justice system and prepared to work in partnership with representatives of the criminal justice system in efforts to prevent

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