The Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System

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Jewel A. Binns Jr. Dr. DAVID R. MONTAGUE Criminal Justice Policy 982 16 December 2014 The Mentally ill in the Criminal Justice System INTRODUCTION The criminal justice system is confronted with many issues, but in recent years police are having increased contact with individuals with mental health issues. The cause of the increased contact can be contributed to individuals with mental health issues have been moved from facilities into community programs. This move from more restrictive facilities to community setting has increased the probability that encounters between individuals with mental illness and law enforcement officers. The result of these encounters can affect the whole criminal justice system. PROBLEM STATEMENT It has been estimated that 1.2 million individuals suffer from some type of mental illness. These mental health issues can range from bi-polar disorder to schizophrenia. It is estimated that 40% of police calls for service involve individuals with mental illness. Law enforcement bears the burden of making contact with individuals with mental illness, but they in most cases lack training. Other problems that exist with mental ill offenders can which include multiple contact within law enforcement, and cost of incarceration. Offenders who suffer from mental illness are more prone to have multiple contacts with police. This may include individual with mental illness making calls to the police reporting things they perceive as criminal activity. The police can also be called on individuals for suspicious behaviors. There are also problems with the cost of incarcerating offenders with mental illness. It has been estimated that to cost millions of dollars per year to incarcerate offenders with mental illness. In many cases, prisons have become the treatment center for mentally ill offenders. This could also contribute to the rising cost

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