The Criminal Justice System And Mental Health Crisis Criminology Essay

The Criminal Justice System And Mental Health Crisis Criminology Essay Mental health care in the United States today is at a crisis point. Nowhere is this crisis more evident than looking into the criminal justice system. Beginning in the 1970s, the Community Mental Health Act deinstitutionalized all inmates of the asylum that were not a clear and present danger to themselves and society (Allen et. al, 2013, p. 390). Since then, the closing of 90% of state and community mental health facilities has had an tremendous effect on another institution: the correctional facilities. The decline in the use of state mental institutions has resulted in the mentally ill being cast into the streets, often resulting in incarceration for minor offenses such as trespassing, theft, indecent behavior or public intoxication. Their mental illness combined with drug abuse which is quite common with street life, can however result in dangerous and destructive behavior. Since most states today do not have the capacity to accommodate the mentally ill in a treatment facility, t hey are sent to prison instead. In prison, they are treated with medication, examined by physicians, psychologists and counselors and recover from their illness to an extent that they are able to be released to live a normal life. The reality is, however, the recidivism rate for the mentally ill is astounding. Within 18-months of their release, nearly two-thirds will find themselves back behind bars. With little to no support system awaiting them in the free world, they often struggle to maintain a supply of their medication, remember to take any medication they have, find housing or a job. They often become homeless and stop taking their medication. . Their inability to assimilate to freedom once again finds them decompensated, off their medication and back into the system to start the cycle over again; being arrested either for minor or violent crimes and their return to incarcerated life the only life that is able to provide them with a routine of proper care. This creates a revolving door of treatment and reha bilitation followed by decompensation and incarceration for many of the mentally ill. The state of Colorado is no exception to this scenario. In 2009, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) gave Colorado an overall grade of C in their care provided to the mentally ill. The state received an F in Health Promotion Measurement, a B in Financing Core Treatment/Recovery Services, a C in Consumer Family Empowerment and a D in Community Integration Social Inclusion. Not surprisingly, the areas in need of the most improvement included workforce development, housing, jail diversion programs, availability of reentry programs, mental illness public education efforts and per capita mental health courts. The state received a grade of zero in many of these categories and fell well below the average U.S. score in others. On the other hand, the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) Mental Health Unit: provides and manages cost effective mental health services to offenders. Services are provided to diminish the risk to public and institutional safety, and maintain or improve offender level of functioning. The DOC provides a wide range of professional psychiatric, psychological, social work, and mental health treatment services to offenders incarcerated in the DOC.  Ã‚   The DOC Mental Health Unit manages the mental health needs of the offender population from intake at the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center (DRDC), throughout their incarceration, and provides specialized transition services for targeted populations as they leave the facilities to parole, community corrections placements, or discharge.   (DOC, 2012) The funds and care appropriated to the criminal justice system as opposed to the Division of Mental Health in Colorado for the care of mental illness is a clear indication of the volume of inmates with mental illness that the correctional facilities receive. The criminalization of persons suffering from mental illness is a critical component of the escalating prison populationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ who at one time would have been treated in mental hospitals, are displaced into correctional facilities (OKeefe Schnell, 2007 p.82). Data gathered by OKeefe and Schnell (2007) indicates that nearly 25% of U.S. inmates incarcerated in state facilities are mentally ill while the approximation of mental illness in the general populous accounts for only 2.6% making it obvious that they are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. In the Unites States today, with mental health care in its current state, it is practically impossible to separate mental health care from the correctional system. An offenders first experience within the correctional sytem, whether mentally ill or not, is usually with an arrest being made and sent to a locally operated jail. Thus, it is essential to provide training and appropriate training to those who serve the communities at the most provincial level to understand mental illness in an offender so that they may be directed to the proper institution for care. Public awareness and increased government recognition in recent years has seen the development of jail diversion programs to increase screening and treatment options at the local level. Additionally, mental health screening and treatment is now required to be provided as a matter of policy so that psychotropic medications are prescribed and counseling is done by trained mental health providers in all Federal prisons and most S tate prisons and jail jurisdictions (Davis, Fallon, Vogel, Teachout, 2008, p.218). This seems to be a step in the right direction, however, while the program requires the availability of the service, access and quality of service or rather the lack of, has rendered such programs to be ineffectiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and incompatible with therapeutic efforts (David et al., 2008, p. 218). One of the most important and difficult challenges faced by the correctional systems is identification of mental illness. Screening for mental health at the time of intake becomes a vital part of the process to determine whether an offender requires psychological treatment or to be places in a mental hospital, at least temporarily, rather than to be incarcerated. Offenders with a mental illness require treatments, medications, and social support needs that significantly differ from other, non-mentally ill offenders in order to assist them with the ability to cope with prison life. OKeefe and Schnells rese arch provided that the strongest contributing factor to the identification of mental disorders is a charted history of mental illness. Offenders with a recorded treatment history saw a 91.7% detection rate of mental illness whereas only 32.5% were detected when treatment histories were unknown (2007, p. 84). The conventional challenges confronted by any incarcerated person with a mental health problem are inflated dramatically when focused on these offenders ability to function in a correctional setting. As stated, research has shown that, many of the mental health needs of offenders often go undetected and/or untreated in correctional settings. This has serious implications for the inmate, the individuals surrounding them in the institution (other inmates and staff alike), and the community at large, when the inmate is eventually returned to society (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009). Community based care is vital to the success and rehabilitation of mentally ill inmates that have been released. Many of these former inmates have very little family, friends or community which will provide a support system during their transition from incarceration back into society. Those who are released into the custody of parole or probation often find success for the duration of their stay at a half-way house or while probation officers are available to monitor their progress and ensure they are taking their medications. Those who have completed their sentence and are simply released, or maxed out of the system, fare worse as they usually have no home, job, stability or support awaiting them to ease the transition. Without support incorporated with mental health care, substance abuse, employment, and other services, many people with mental illness end up being homeless, disconnected from community supports, and thus more likely to . . . become involved with the criminal justice system (Davis et al, 2008, p. 219). According to John Suthers, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, only 5% of the prison population was chronically mentally ill. By 1999, the number had doubled and 95% of them would be returning to our communities, where theyll have very little support. Theyll probably stop taking their medication, and many of them become violent without it. Thatll force them back into the criminal justice system (Groom, 1999, p.115). Over the course of a decade beginning in 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has enhanced the continuity-of-care policies and procedures for inmates with mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and developed programsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to assist inmates with reentry into the community (Couturier, 2005, p. 83). The Community Orientation and Reintegration program developed by the Pennsylvania DOC and described in Couturiers article (2005) is a two-phase program designed to enable inmates transition from the prison environment to their home community. The program provides an individualized agenda based on the inmates ability levels and progress level attained within the correctional facility. The first phase of the program as described by Couturier (2005) is completed in the prison during the several weeks prior to discharge and addresses the critical issues of parole responsibilities such as employment preparation, vocational evaluation, personal finances, substance abuse e ducation, Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings, housing, family and parenting, mental health, life skills, antisocial attitudes and community (give back) services (Couturier, 2005, p. 83). The second phase of the program prepares inmates to return to the community over a four- to six-week program individually designed to the best capabilities and interests of the offender. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and DOC community corrections staff establish a release date for the inmate as to when he is able to leave from the community corrections center based upon his progress. If necessary, program procedures can be modified to meet the needs of an offender with special needs. This kind of program greatly benefits not only the inmate as his transition to the community is monitored and supported; it is also beneficial to the community receiving the former inmate as their chances of assimilating to the community increase their potential threat to the community de creases. The Colorado Department of Corrections opened the San Carlos Correctional Facility in 1995 in response to the increasing number of mentally ill inmates that required special needs. The facility supports a capacity of 255 beds and is ran more as a therapeutic community much like a rehabilitation center for addicts rather than a traditional lock-down prison and is able to provide specialized treatment, care, and programming to mental health special need male offenders in a Level V Correctional Facility.  Ã‚  Prepare offenders for successful community re-entry or successful reintegration into Colorado Department of Corrections Facilities.   Promote a positive work culture with innovative management practices in an ethical, professional, and responsible manner by empowering employees and promoting staff development (SCCF, 2012). Programs provided to prisoners at the San Carlos facility in order to aid in transitioning to society include: Adult Basic Education, Work Activity Center wh ere offenders learn basic skills such as sewing, using a time clock and responsible behavior in a work place, Mental Health classes in: Understanding Your Mental Illness, Symptom/Medication Management, Institutional Coping Skills and Addiction Recovery Programs according to their website (SCCF, 2012). Once released, they are sent to a halfway house where the residents continue an after-care program where they learn to live and work in the community (Groom, 1999, p. 119) as well as receive psychiatric care and access to their medications. Although protection of autonomy for those with a mental illness is essential, the rights of the inmates need to be balanced with the necessity of providing care to those whom are not able to understand how the administration of mental healthcare is beneficial to them, the inmate population and to the correctional staff. Some authorities have asserted the benefits of providing mental health services to incompetent prisoners; however, advocating involuntary treatment of individuals who decline to consent should be taken with caution, particularly in such a vulnerable population as inmates. It is advantageous for any civilized society to ensure adequate legal protection of the civil liberties of its marginalized citizens and that any such treatment is provided in compliance with applicable statute. The ethics and human rights requirements require careful monitoring and such treatment must clearly be in the best interests of the inmate (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009, p. 829-830). Although there are numerous challenges to providing appropriate mental health services to inmates experiencing mental health problems, the moment of opportunity that is available when an individual with mental health needs is in correctional custody should not be ignored. Many individuals receive their first real, complete mental health evaluation upon entering the correctional system. Their and the attentive care that they receive can offer a therapeutic window which otherwise may not have been available to the offender at any other time in their life. Clinical and research experiences in jails and prisons have found that inmates frequently report that their admissions to corrections is the first time they have been asked about their psychiatric symptoms, their suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and their mental health needs, or had an opportunity to experience the relief brought about by antipsychotic or mood stabilizing medications (Olley, Nicholls Brink, 2009, p. 830). Prison is not an easy place to acclimate to. The function of a prison is to first and foremost provide safety and security to the community it serves; not to provide mental health treatment. Prison life comes with a set of strict rules, regulations, orders and standards that must be maintained by every prisoner regardless of their mental capacity to do so. Despite the provisions of medication, therapy, and other mental health services provided by the correctional system; it is nevertheless true for those with suffering from a mental illness that prison life can aggravate aspects of the illness resulting in behavioral disruptions. Medications relieve many of the manifestations of mental illness that perpetuate behavioral infractions; therefore, disruptive behaviors are most likely to occur when the inmate is not taking their medication. Many mentally ill inmates refuse to take medications, and when this occurs, prison staff typically cannot forcibly administer them without a court ord er. Noncompliance occurs because the inmates want to avoid unpleasant side effects or benefit from selling or bargaining medications for desired amenities (OKeefe Schnell, 2007). Detrimental effects of medication noncompliance are further agitated by environmental variables. The prison environment is comprised of many adverse conditions that negatively affect all prisoners, such as overcrowding, excessive noise and uncomfortable temperatures. Lack of autonomy, physical confinement, and humiliation can evoke fear and stress. The abrasive atmosphere in correctional facilities, when compounded by mental illness, can easily trigger behavioral infractions such as yelling and aggressive behavior toward other inmates and staff, which lead to punitive consequences. OKeefe and Schnell (2007) also site a study conducted in 2006 that further provided evidence of prison adjustment issues where 58% of offenders with a mental illness were charged with rule violations in comparison to only 43% of non-mentally ill offenders. Additionally, the offenders behavioral disturbances can sometimes agitate other inmates and result in aggression towards the individual causing the annoyance. Correspondingly, it was found that mentally ill offenders were twice as likely to sustain a fighting injury as their non-mentally ill counterparts (OKeefe Schnell, 2007 p.87). Noncompliance with the regulations of the facility result in disciplinary action which can extend the sentence of an inmate sometimes far beyond the recommended sentencing guidelines for the crime they committed. Carl McEachron, an inmate at the maximum security prison in Lucasville, Ohio featured in PBS Frontlines documentary The New Asylum, has been in prison for 16years on a three year sentence for burglary on account of the countless disciplinary actions (Navaski OConnor, 2005).

Culture And Society Essay

Languages are sources out from the historical background of each country. The stresses and the tenses of each language actually differ from each other primarily because of the fact that different nationalities around the world have different perceptions with regards life and living. It could be observed that such linguistic assessments had been based upon their realization of how life’s elements should be perceived. Taking the sound of the nature and the environment in use through language had been the main feature of such languages as they are profoundly used around the world. 2. Using the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, discuss the impact that a bilingual education might have on understanding other cultures. Having a bilingual education opens an individual to understanding how other nations actually understand nature and how much they give importance to the elements making it up. Likely, the process is more complex than actually expected. With one’s ability of identifying one language from the other, he is also able to identify one culture from another as he tries to evaluate the different elements of language that each culture recognizes through speech. Through this, the person having a bilingual capability shall have a better mirror of the world through spoken tongue. 3. How might ethnocentrism, xenocentrism and temporocentrism affect people’s attitudes toward bilingual education programs? It depends on one’s view of cultural connection in the world that the possibility of learning another language lays. Likely, the idea is to help a person understand different cultures through the existence of different languages. Most often than not, one’s disposition about the said idea of cultural connection actually increases or decreases the capability of one to accept learning other languages from other nationalities, moreover, such disposition would give them either a better or dimmer chance of accepting other nationalities as part of the one whole wide world community of humans trying to cope up with the changes of the world. 4. Describe what is meant by value conflict. Give examples. How are such conflicts resolved? Value conflict usually occurs when a person’s ideas of something or someone does not connect with that of the others. Likely, in terms of language, such situation occurs when one does not understand a language based on the perception of others. If one foreigner does not understand the way English should be understood, comprehension of the conversation becomes impossible. 5. Discuss ways in which existing student norms may not be beneficial or may even be harmful to themselves. Student norms may not be beneficial to students themselves when the said norms actually disregard the cultural values of each individual. As noted earlier, the recognition of such social and personal element in satisfaction is a certain factor that needs to be given attention through careful understanding of the matter. Most likely, such values are related to the cultural perceptions of each student towards their regular activities in school. ** step 2 ** A. List and discuss at least one idea from this chapter 4 such as: Technology and Material Culture (meaning what can we in our social world understand from this) Technology is one particular element in the current human culture that connects every nationality together in the present system of things. The material culture that it opens up to the current human generation actually increases the capability of the people to relate to each other even beyond understanding the cultures and values of each nationality through the existence of language. Likely, the idea is that technology becomes an undeniably fine link between people around the world today especially because of the advancement that it implies on every group of people regardless of their culture and values as members of the human society. ** step 3 ** B. Explain an important concept from chapter 4 and explain why it is significant? ( meaning why are the elements of culture significant) Elements of culture are significant in explaining the differences of people in the different areas of the world. Understandably, such elements make a certain implication on how and who a certain group of people are depending on their perceptions of life, their language and their historical background as well. Likely, such elements of culture are used to identify people regarding their lifestyle and how they are actually able to contribute to the development of the society at present.

The One Thing to Do for Huntington Sat Essay Samples

The One Thing to Do for Huntington Sat Essay Samples The Do's and Don'ts of Huntington Sat Essay Samples You will be supplied a passage of nearly 700 words that you must read and then respond to it. You will have to practice this. The nature of the speech centered on the war in Vietnam. What the In-Crowd Won't Tell You About Huntington Sat Essay Samples The essay isn't mandatory, but it is best to take it. It must come with a prompt so that you can see what it takes to follow the prompt. It gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can read and comprehend a passage and write an essay analyzing the passage. It must be organized into paragraphs. There are plenty of ideas that can help in the writing of a good SAT test essays. You may feel as if you will need to begin writing as fast as possible, but be sure you comprehend the author's argument thoroughly before beginning. That is why it's completely feasible to get ready for the essay ahead of time. Regardless, a well-written essay will be an extra plus to the test outcome, so this area should be taken under account when preparing for SAT. Some schools need an essay, while some don't. Another illustration of this may be found in Paragraph 4. Your essay rating will appear on every score report you send to colleges, no matter whether the school demands an essay. The key for an ideal score on the SAT essay is to utilize your time wisely and remain concentrated on the job. Huntington Sat Essay Samples: No Longer a Mystery It does not rely on the outcomes of different students but is intended to deal with changing difficulties of unique sittings of SAT tests. Make a list of what you have to work on. There's no composite SAT Essay score (the 3 scores aren't added together) and there are not any percentiles. To the dismay of several students, the newest SAT exam involves an essay section. Because you may read articles from identical sources the SAT gets material from. SAT is most likely one of the main tests that you'll ever take as a student. Our five SAT essay suggestions to help you make a great SAT writing score. There's, obviously, a limit on the variety of pages even our finest writers can produce with a pressing deadline, but usually, we figure out how to satisfy all the clients seeking urgent assistance. The principal point is, you don't need to wait until you find the prompt to come up with an arsenal of sorts of argument-building techniques you may use to back up your points. After discovering our website, you will no longer will need to bother friends and family with these kinds of requests. Convince your family members and friends that you require a quiet place to study, whether it's your room, library or bench in the yard. It is possible to also acquire many discounts on our site which will help you to save some more money for future orders or anything you want to spend them on. It's also important to remind yourself that you're an intelligent person with several merits. Factual evidence may also be in the shape of non-numerical details. As a way to make a high reading score, in addition, it is vital that you compose a considerable amount. You should have your reasons, and our principal concern is that you find yourself getting a great grade. The most important issue for many students is they do not own a powerful and organized plan on how best to find a high score for the test and for that reason they want to do too much or are cramming at the last minute. By way of example, take Thomas Edison. Another sort of evidence that's often utilized as an alternate to actual facts or statistics is the anecdote. Don't worry if a number of the articles you stumble across seem long. Select a prompt at random from above, or pick a topic which you think will be hard that you detach from (because you are going to want to write about the subject, in place of the argument) set timer to 50 minutes and compose the essay. Just find the links down below at the base of this guide. The questions are paraphrased for simplicity, but they supply you with a notion of the way the themes are recycled every year. Beginning the article together with all of these facts and figures has a few strengtheing results on Goodman's argument. You should concentrate on the way in which the author employs reasoning, evidence, and other rhetorical strategies to make an argument and allow it to be convincing. This juxtaposition demonstrates how confusing and subjective the questions can be, making the reader feel a feeling of injustice.

Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants Essay

WC: 754 Title: Sacred Moments Close interpretation of the story quot;Hills Like White Elephantsquot; by Ernest Hemingway leads the reader to an issue that has plagued society for decades. Understanding of the human condition is unveiled in the story line, the main setting, and through the character representation. The main characters in the story are an American man and a female named Jig. The conflict about abortions is an issue that still faces society today. Architectural and atmospheric symbolisms are used to set the mood and outline the human condition. The love bond between the man and Jig is strong; however, the more powerful bond between Jig and her unborn child is sacred. Many years ago our society was filled with moral and†¦show more content†¦The station, a common ground or meeting place, is representative of the relationship between the American and Jig. The tracks leading in and out of the station describe the emotional pathways each of them takes. The American is almost exactly opposite to Jig, free spirited and not wanting a change. Jig is love struck and torn. She has to decide between her love for the American man and her love of her unborn child. The American is set on convincing Jig that there is no harm in what she is considering. He tries to calm Jig by telling her quot;We’ll be fine afterwards, just like we were beforequot;(24). Jig is not convinced. She is not as confident or as willing as the American to rush off into such a carefree decision. The luggage, covered with hotel labels, plays a significant part in understanding how Jig feels in regard to the decision that she had to make. She was obviously torn between remai ning reckless and carefree and making a family with the man she loved. Jig reacts almost visibly in their conversation. Building a social wall is the means to an end for Jig in the fight to make her decision. She is willing to do almost anything for the American but is blocked by her motherly instinct to protect her child. The American tells Jig quot;We can have everythingquot;(24), quot;It’s oursquot;(24), but she knows better. quot;No, it isn’t. And once they take itShow MoreRelatedAbortion In Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants1237 Words   |  5 Pages The short story â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants,† by Ernest Hemingway, talk about a young couple and their relationship issue about abortion. Even though, the story happened in a short period of time, but it tells more than just a story. The woman named Jig, where the man only called as â€Å" a man† or â€Å" The American.† Although the relationship between them is complicated, but it is clearly that they are not married. 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