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Jail Inmates' Mental Health Care Neglected - State and Federal Attention Needed

NCJ Number
73477
Date Published
1980
Length
95 pages
Annotation
This report discusses ways Federal agencies could help States to improve jail mental health services as well as ways the Bureau of Prisons could improve mental health care within Federal prisons.
Abstract
Although studies indicate that from 20 to 60 percent of the approximately 142,000 persons in the nation's jails have mental problems, most jails do not identify all inmates who need help or provide for their proper care. To determine the adequacy of mental health care in local jails, researchers made literature searches, examined court decisions, reviewed reports, and interviewed officials from various national organizations. Furthermore, researchers visited 12 jails in 4 States, reviewed policies and procedures, and interviewed State officials. To determine the adequacy of care in Federal prisons, researchers reviewed policies and procedures of the Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Marshals Service as well as visiting two Federal prisons. The study found that States have done little to overcome widespread inadequacies in the training of local jail personnel and that criminal justice and health systems continue to operate separately with little interaction or cooperation. The Study recommends that Federal programs administered by the U.S. Marshals Service, LEAA, the National Institute of Corrections, and the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration could aid the States in improving mental health care services. To improve services within Federal prisons, the Bureau of Prisons should give greater priority to providing clerical support for professional personnel, and ensure that ongoing psychological training is provided to personnel engaged in identifying mental health problems. Also, the Bureau should require that a psychological file be established for each inmate identified as mentally ill and that the diagnoses, treatment, and results be recorded. Appefndixes contain relevant correspondence and a list of organizations visited or contacted. (Author abstract modified)