Mental Care In U.S. Prison System Inadequate
There is a high rate of U.S. Prisoners on the mental health caseload. The U.S. Prison System is inadequate since mental health care experts agree that the services contracted to treat mentally ill prisoners generally have very few psychiatrists, registered nurses and counselors to provide care for all inmates. Experts acknowledge that the high rate of the U.S. prisoners on the mental health caseload has increased since mental illness in prisons goes untreated, partially because of an inadequate screening process.
High Rate of Prisoners on the Mental Health Caseload
According to governmental statistics, which were last reviewed on February 11, 2016, and were based on data from personal interviews with State, Federal, and local jail inmates, show that in the United States more than half of all prisoners and jail inmates had a mental health problem. The findings in this report indicated that an estimate of the State rate of mentally ill prisoners represents 56%, Federal prisoners 45%, and jail inmates 64%. The findings also reported that female inmates had higher rates of mental health problems than male inmates. For instance, in State prisons 73% of female inmates are mentally ill while males rate of inmates show 55%. Similarly, in federal prisons 61% of females prisoners present mental health issues, and in males prisoners the rate is 44%. Likewise, In local jails, the rate of females inmates mentally ill is 75% , and males 63% roughly. Thus, according to other sources, jails and prisons in the United States became mental health facilities, accommodating three times as many mentally ill persons than mental hospitals.
Outrageous Treatment Causes Extreme Psychological Distress
In addition, correctional experts concur that the high rate of the U.S. prisoners are on the mental health caseload because jails and prisons throughout the U.S. use excessive, and in some cases, malicious force to overpower inmates with serious mental heath issues; such as severe depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder that result in serious injuries or death. Thus, in most cases, these outrageous treatment cause extreme psychological distress leaving individuals unable to function in correctional surroundings and definitely unprepared to successfully integrate to society after incarceration.