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INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN MENTAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

NCJ Number
54704
Journal
Social Casework Volume: 59 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 387-395
Author(s)
A MORALES
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
IN THIS DISCUSSION OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG INMATES, RACISM IN PRISONS AND JAILS, RACISM IN POLICE DEPLOYMENT, MINORITY EXCLUSION FROM POLICYMAKING, AND BARRIERS TO SERVICES.
Abstract
RACISM IS DEFINED AS THE ASSUMPTION THAT PSYCHOCULTURAL TRAITS AND CAPACITIES ARE DETERMINED BY BIOLOGICAL RACE AND THAT RACES DIFFER DECISIVELY FROM ONE ANOTHER. THIS DEFINITION IS USALLY COUPLED WITH A BELIEF IN THE INHERENT SUPERIORITY OF A PARTICULAR RACE AND ITS RIGHT TO DOMINATION OVER OTHERS. INSTITUTIONAL RACISM OCCURS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELDS. POOR MINORITIES ARE MORE OFTEN PUNISHED FOR THE SAME DEVIANT BEHAVIOR FOR WHICH WHITES RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. IN MANY SITUATIONS, INSTITUTIONAL RACISM BARRIERS FUNCTION TO KEEP WHITES OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MINORITIES OUT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. ON THE AVERAGE, 10 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION SUFFER FROM SOME TYPE OF MENTAL DISORDER. THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL DISORDERS IS SEVERAL TIMES GREATER AMONG PRISONERS IN JAILS THAN IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THERE IS A THREE-TO-ONE RATIO OF BLACKS GOING TO PRISON AS OPPOSED TO WHITES, AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS CONSTITUTE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE JAIL POPULATION. BECAUSE MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ARE WHITE AND ARE BELIEVED TO HARBOR THE STEREOTYPE THAT MINORITY GROUPS ARE IN A SUBORDINATE AND INFERIOR POSITION, MORE POLICE ARE ASSIGNED TO PATROL BLACK AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. DISCRIMINATORY LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES HAVE MENTAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS. MINORITIES ARE OFTEN POWERLESS TO MAKE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY EXCLUDED FROM POLICYMAKING BOARDS. THE UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY MINORITIES SEEMS TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF MINORITIES EMPLOYED BY A PARTICULAR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE OR AGENCY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL FACTORS. THE DYNAMICS OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN CALIFORNIA ARE ANALYZED, AND THE CHALLENGE OF MINIMIZING OR ELIMINATING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IS DISCUSSED. (DEP)