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Special Needs Inmates in New Mexico Jails

NCJ Number
168817
Journal
American Jails Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: May/June 1996 Pages: 32-36-41
Author(s)
G L Mays; D L Judiscak
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
In order to assess the numbers of special needs inmates in New Mexico jails and the treatment capacities of these jails, a questionnaire was prepared for jail administrators.
Abstract
The focus of the questionnaire was on special needs inmates (mentally ill inmates, chemically dependent inmates, and inmates with communicable diseases). The seven questionnaires returned represent jails that are geographically scattered throughout the States, and most are of average size for New Mexico; however, no claim is made about their representativeness in relation to all of the State's jails. Survey findings show that both because of the seriousness of the problems they pose and their sheer numbers, special needs detainees present substantial operational and administrative dilemmas for jails. Responding jails indicated that special needs inmates must be watched more closely for possible suicide risk. With special needs inmates, there is a 42.9-percent increase in the potential for outbreaks of violence in the facilities. Almost 29 percent of these inmates are abused by other inmates with whom they are housed. Six out of the seven jails responding to the survey indicated that between 1 percent and 5 percent of their average daily populations were mentally ill. The number for inmates with infectious diseases are essentially the same as those for mental illness. Jails report figures as high as 90 percent of their inmate populations with some type of substance abuse problem. All States must pay attention to special needs inmates, but States like New Mexico that do not have State jail standards must pay particular attention to the needs of such inmates. 5 tables, 3 footnotes, and 24 references