Mental Health and Treatment of Inmates and Probationers 

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics
July 1999, NCJ 174463

By Paula M. Ditton
BJS Statistician

************************************************

**********
Highlights
**********

Over a quarter million mentally ill incarcerated 
in prison or jail
 
                                  State     Federal
Reported a...                     prison    prison    Jail  Probation
Mental or emotional condition       10.1%    4.8%     10.5%    13.8%
Overnight stay in a mental hospital 10.7     4.7      10.2      8.2

Estimated to be 
mentally ill*                       16.2%    7.4%     16.3%    16.0%

*Reported either a mental or emotional condition or 
an overnight stay in a mental hospital or program.

*About 10% of prison and jail inmates reported a 
mental or emotional condition; and 10% said they 
had stayed overnight in a mental hospital or program.

*Together, 16% or an estimated 283,800 inmates 
reported either a mental condition or an overnight 
stay in a mental hospital, and were identified as 
mentally ill. 

Mentally ill inmates were more likely than others to be 
in prison for a violent offense

                         State prisoners
Offense               Mentally ill Other 
  Violent                 52.9%     46.1%
  Property                24.4      21.5
  Drug                    12.8      22.2
  Public-order             9.9       9.8
Criminal history
  None                    18.8%     21.2%
  Priors                  81.2      78.8

*About 53% of mentally ill inmates were in prison 
for a violent offense, compared to 46% of other 
inmates.

*Mentally ill offenders were less likely than 
others to be incarcerated for a drug related 
offense (13% versus 22%).

Nearly 6 in 10 mentally ill offenders reported 
they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs 
at the time of their current offense.

                            State prisoners
                           Mentally ill Other
Before entering prison     inmates      inmates     
Homeless in 12 months
prior to arrest              20.1%        8.8%

Physical/sexual abuse
Male                         32.8%       13.1%
Female                       78.4        50.9

Alcohol/drug use
At time of offense           58.7%       51.2%

Drug use
In month before offense      58.8%       56.1%

*Mentally ill State prison inmates were more than 
twice as likely as other inmates to report living 
on the street or in a shelter in the 12 months prior 
to arrest (20% compared to 9%).

*Nearly 8 in 10 female mentally ill inmates reported 
physical or sexual abuse. Males with a mental condition 
were more than twice as likely as other males to report 
abuse.

                            Mentally ill inmates  
                            State prison  Jail
Mental health treatment
Any treatment                  60.5%      40.9%
   Medication                  50.1       34.1
   Counseling                  44.1       16.2

*6 in 10 mentally ill State inmates reported receiving 
mental treatment since admission to prison.
 
****************End of Highlights*****************


At midyear 1998 an estimated 283,800 mentally ill 
offenders were incarcerated in the Nation's prisons 
and jails. In recent surveys completed by the Bureau 
of Justice Statistics, 16% of State prison inmates, 7% 
of Federal inmates, and 16% of those in local jails 
reported either a mental condition or an overnight 
stay in a mental hospital.  About 16%, or an estimated 
547,800 probationers, said they had had a mental condi-
tion or stayed overnight in a mental hospital at some 
point in their lifetime.

Based on information from personal interviews, State 
prison inmates with a mental condition were more likely 
than other inmates to be incarcerated for a violent 
offense (53% compared to 46%); more likely than other 
inmates to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs 
at the time of the current offense (59% compared to 51%); 
and more than twice as likely as other inmates to have 
been homeless in the 12 months prior to their arrest 
(20% compared to 9%). Over three-quarters of mentally 
ill inmates had been sentenced to time in prison or 
jail or on probation at least once prior to the current 
sentence.

Over 30% of male mentally ill inmates and 78% of 
females reported prior physical or sexual abuse.  
Since admission 61% of mentally ill inmates in State 
prison and 41% in local jails reported they had 
received treatment for a mental condition in the form of 
counseling, medication, or other mental health services. 


*********************Box******************************

*******************************************
Survey items used to measure mental illness
*******************************************

Do you have a mental or emotional condition? (prison and 
jail inmates only) --Yes --No     

Have you ever been told by a mental health professional     
such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or     
psychiatric nurse, that you had a mental or emotional 
disorder?  --Yes --No

(probationers only)          
Because of an emotional or mental problem, have you ever--

Taken a medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or other 
doctor?  --Yes --No

Been admitted to a mental hospital, unit or treatment program 
where you stayed overnight?   --Yes --No

Received counseling or therapy from a trained professional? 
--Yes --No

Received any other mental health services? --Yes --No

****************End of questionnaire box***************
 
**************************Box**************************

************************************************
Previous studies of the prevalence of severe mental illness 
in prison or jail
************************************************

Study                        Sample              Mentally ill*

Guy, Platt, Zwerling,        Philadelphia jail                  
   and Bullock (1985)        pretrial admissions      16%
 
Teplin (1990)                Cook County jail         
                             admissions (males)       10%

Steadman, Fabisiak, Dvoskin, New York State           
   and Holohean (1987)       prisoners                 8%

*Generally includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and 
major depression.  See individual studies for variations 
in definition.
 
*****************End of studies box*********************

****************************
Prevalence of mental illness among correctional 
populations based on offender self reports
****************************

The findings in this report are based on the 1997 
Survey of Inmates in State or Federal Correctional 
Facilities, the 1996 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, 
and the 1995 Survey of Adults on Probation.  In each 
survey, offenders selected through nationally 
representative samples were asked a series of mental 
health related questions.  Respondents were asked 
if they have a mental or emotional condition and 
whether they had ever received treatment for a mental 
or emotional problem, other than treatment related to 
drug or alcohol abuse.  (See survey questions in 
the box above.) 

****************************
16% of State prisoners identified 
as mentally ill
****************************

For this report, offenders were identified as mentally 
ill if they met one of the following two criteria: 
they reported a current mental or emotional condition, 
or they reported an overnight stay in a mental hospital 
or treatment program.  An estimated 1 in 10 State prison 
inmates reported a current mental or emotional condition 
(table 1).  

******************************************************************************

Measures of mental illness among State prison

                        State prison  inmates 
                                      Cumu- 
                                      lative 
                           Percent    percent 

Reported a mental 
or emotional condition      10.1 %     10.1 %

Because of a mental 
or emotional problem, 
inmate had --
 
Been admitted to
a hospital overnight        10.7 %     16.2 %

Taken a prescribed
medication                  18.9       23.9

Received professional
counseling or therapy       21.8       29.7

Received other 
mental health services       3.3       30.2


******************************************************************************

A slightly larger percentage (11%) of State inmates 
said they had been admitted overnight to a mental 
hospital or treatment program at some point in their 
life.  Overall, nearly a third of all inmates 
reported they had a current mental condition or they 
had received mental health service at some
time.

To take into account underreporting of current mental 
or emotional problems, past admission to a mental 
hospital was included as a measure of mental illness.  
Overall, 16% of State prisoners met these criteria, 
including 10% who reported a current mental condition 
and an additional 6% who said they did not have a 
mental condition but had stayed overnight in a mental 
hospital, unit, or treatment program.
   
Previously estimated rates of mental illness among 
incarcerated populations vary, depending on the 
methodology of the study, the institution, and the 
definition of mental illness.  Estimates range from 
8% to 16% among studies with more rigorous scientific 
methods, including random sampling and a standardized 
assessment or psychological testing. (See the box on 
this page.)
  
Past estimates of the rate of mental illness among 
incarcerated populations are higher than those for 
the U.S. general population.  Among a sample of male 
jail detainees in Cook County (Chicago), Teplin found 
9.5% had experienced a severe mental disorder (schizophrenia, 
mania, or major depression) at some point in their life, 
compared to 4.4% of males in the U.S. general population. 
The Epidemiologic Catchment Area program found that 6.7% 
of prisoners had suffered from schizophrenia at some point, 
compared to 1.4% of the U.S. household population (Robins 
and Regier).

****************************
283,800 mentally ill in prison or jail; 
547,800 on probation
****************************

Using the same criteria described for State prison 
inmates, 16% of offenders in local jails or on probation 
and 7% of inmates in Federal prisons were identified 
as mentally ill in recently completed BJS surveys (table 2).

**************************************************************************************
Table 2.  Mental health status of inmates and probationers

                             State prison  Federal prison  Jail inmates, Probationers,
                             inmates, 1997 inmates, 1997   1996          1995

Identified as mentally ill*      16.2 %        7.4 %           16.3 %       6.0%

Reported a mental 
or emotional condition           10.1           4.8            10.5        13.8

Admitted overnight to a mental
hospital or treatment center     10.7           4.7            10.2         8.2

*Reported either a mental condition or an overnight stay 
in a mental hospital or treatment program.

***************************************************************************************

Probationers were somewhat less likely than inmates in 
State prisons or local jails to report an overnight 
stay in a mental hospital or treatment program but more 
likely to report a mental or emotional problem.  Federal 
inmates had lower rates on both measures.  

Assuming these rates have not changed since the surveys 
were conducted, an estimated 283,800 inmates in prison 
or jail were mentally ill as of June 30, 1998 (table 3).

*************************************************************************
 
Table 3.  Estimated number of mentally ill inmates and probationers, 1998

                           Estimated number of offenders*
                             State    Federal  Local
                             prison   prison   jail    Probation

Identified as mentally ill   179200    7900    96700    547800

Reported a mental or
emotional condition          111300    5200    62100    473000

Admitted overnight 
to a mental hospital         118300    5000    60500    281200

*Based on midyear 1998 counts from the National Prisoner 
Statistics and Annual Survey of Jails and preliminary yearend 
1998 counts from the Annual Probation Survey.    

**************************************************************************

State prisons held an estimated 179,200 mentally ill 
offenders; Federal prisons held 7,900; and local jails, 
96,700.  Of those on probation at yearend 1998, an estimated 
547,800 were mentally ill.

****************************
White inmates more likely than blacks or 
Hispanics to report a mental illness
****************************

Nearly a quarter of white State prison and local jail 
inmates and a fifth of white offenders on probation 
were identified as mentally ill (table 4). 

**************************************************************************
 Table 4.  Inmates and probationers identified as mentally ill, by gender, 
 race/Hispanic origin, and age

                            Percent identified as mentally ill 
Offender             State        Federal      Jail 
characteristic       inmates      inmates      inmates  Probationers

Gender
   Male                15.8 %        7.0 %     15.6 %     14.7 %
   Female              23.6         12.5       22.7       21.7

Race/Hispanic origin
   White*              22.6 %       11.8 %     21.7 %     19.6 %
   Black*              13.5          5.6       13.7       10.4
   Hispanic            11.0          4.1       11.1        9.0
   
Age
   24 or younger       14.4 %        6.6 %     13.3 %     13.8 %
   25-34               14.8          5.9       15.7       13.8
   35-44               18.4          7.5       19.3       19.8
   45-54               19.7         10.3       22.7       21.1
   55 or older         15.6          8.9       20.4       16.0

*Excludes Hispanics.

**************************************************************************

The rate of mental illness among black and Hispanic 
inmates and probationers was much lower.  Among black 
offenders, 14% of those in State prison and local jails, 
and 10% of those on probation were identified as mentally 
ill.  About 11% of Hispanic State prison and local jail 
inmates, and 9% of Hispanic offenders on probation had a 
mental illness. 

Black and Hispanic inmates in Federal prison were half 
as likely as white inmates to report a mental illness.  
About 6% of black inmates and 4% of Hispanic inmates 
reported a mental condition or an overnight stay in a 
mental hospital, compared to 12% of white Federal prison 
inmates.

The prevalence of mental illness also varied by gender, 
with females reporting a higher rate of mental illness 
than males.  Nearly 24% of female State prison and local 
jail inmates, and 22% of female probationers were 
identified as mentally ill, compared to 16% of male 
State prison and jail inmates and 15% of male probationers. 

****************************
Offender mental illness highest 
among the middle-aged 
****************************

Offenders between ages 45 and 54 were the most likely 
to be identified as mentally ill.  About 20% of State 
prisoners, 10% of Federal prisoners, 23% of jail inmates, 
and 21% of probationers between ages 45 and 54 had a 
mental illness, compared to 14% of State inmates, 7% of 
Federal inmates, 13% of jail inmates, and 14% of 
probationers age 24 or younger.

The highest rates of mental illness were among white 
females in State prison. An estimated 29% of white 
females, 20% of black females, and 22% of Hispanic 
females in State prison were identified as mentally 
ill. Nearly 4 in 10 white female inmates age 24 or 
younger were mentally ill. 


         Percent of females in State prison
         identified as mentally ill
Age           White  Black   Hispanic
   Total       29 %    20 %   22 %
24 or younger  37      17     23
25-34          23      20     21
35 or old      33      21     23


****************************
Mentally ill more likely than other offenders 
to have committed a violent offense
****************************

Fifty-three percent of mentally ill State prisoners, 
compared to 46% of other State prisoners, were 
incarcerated for a violent crime (table 5).

********************************************************************************************************************************************

Table 5.  Most serious current offense of inmates and probationers, 
by mental health status  
                      
                       State prison                    Federal prison                    Local jail                       Probation  
                       Mentally ill   Other           Mentally ill    Other         Mentally ill   Other          Mentally ill   Other 
Most serious offense   inmates        inmates         inmates         inmates       inmates        inmates        probationers   probationers 

         All offenses     100 %         100 %            100 %            100 %         100 %        100 %           100 %       100 %

Violent offenses         52.9 %        46.1 %           33.1 %           13.3 %        29.9 %       25.6 %          28.4 %      18.4 %
   Murder*               13.2          11.4              1.9              1.4           3.5          2.7             0.5         0.9
   Sexual assault        12.4           7.9              1.9              0.7           5.2          2.8             6.8         4.1
   Robbery               13.0          14.4             20.8              9.1           4.7          6.9             2.0         1.4
   Assault               10.9           9.0              3.8              1.1          14.4         11.0            14.0        10.5

Property offenses        24.4 %        21.5 %            8.7 %            6.7 %        31.3 %       26.0 %          30.4 %      28.5 %
   Burglary              12.1          10.5              1.0              0.3           9.1          7.4             6.4         4.3
   Larceny/theft          4.6           4.1              1.3              0.4           8.4          7.9             5.3         8.8
   Fraud                  3.1           2.6              5.0              4.9           5.2          4.4            11.7         9.2

Drug offenses            12.8 %        22.2 %           40.4 %           64.4 %        15.2 %       23.3 %          16.1 %      20.7 %
   Possession             5.7           9.4              3.9             11.9           7.3         12.3             7.2        11.0
   Trafficking            6.6          12.2             35.7             46.6           7.0          9.6             6.7         9.2

Public-order offenses     9.9 %         9.8 %           17.0 %           14.6 %        23.2 %       24.6 %          24.7 %      31.6 %

Note: Detail does not sum to total because of excluded offense categories. 
*Includes nonnegligent manslaughter.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************
 
Approximately  13% of the mentally ill in State prison 
had committed murder; 12%, sexual assault; 13%, robbery; 
and 11%, assault.  Among inmates in Federal prison, 33% 
of the mentally ill were incarcerated for a violent offense, 
compared to 13% of other Federal inmates.  More than 1 in 5
mentally ill Federal prisoners had committed robbery 
(predominantly bank robbery).  Among inmates in local jails, 
30% of the mentally ill had committed a violent offense, 
compared to 26% of other jail inmates.  An estimated 28% 
of mentally ill probationers and 18% of other probationers 
reported their current offense was a violent crime.


Nearly 1 in 5 violent offenders incarcerated 
or on probation were identified as mentally ill.


                       Percent mentally ill 
                       among violent offenders
State prison inmates        18.2 %
Federal prison inmates      16.6
Jail inmates                18.5
Probationers                22.8


Unlike those in State prisons, the majority of mentally 
ill offenders in jail or on probation had committed a  
property or public-order offense.  Almost a third of 
mentally ill offenders in jail and on probation had 
committed a property offense, and a quarter had 
committed a public-order offense.

**************************Box****************************

********************************
6 in 10 violent mentally ill State 
prisoners knew their victim
********************************

Mentally ill inmates who were incarcerated for a violent 
offense were more likely to report that the victim of the 
offense was a woman, someone they knew, and under age 18.  
Nearly 61% of mentally ill State prison inmates who had 
committed a violent offense knew their victim.  An estimated 
16% had victimized a relative and 12% an intimate, such as 
a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. 

More than half of the mentally ill reported that they had 
victimized a female during the current offense.  An estimated 
15% reported that their youngest victim was a child, age 12 
or under, and 12% reported the victim to be between ages 13 
and 17.  A weapon was used by 44% of the violent State 
prisoners who were mentally ill.

****************************
Victim characteristics and use  of weapon, 
by mental health status of violent State prisoners
****************************

                        Mentally
                        ill           Other
                        inmates       inmates

Gender of victim(s)
Male                     44.3 %        51.5 %
Female                   44.0          37.5
Both males and female    11.7          10.9

Age of youngest victim
12 or younger            15.4 %        10.2 %
13-17                    11.6          11.0
18-24                    17.3          20.7
25-34                    25.7          30.9
35-54                    23.8          22.8
55 or older               6.2           4.3

Victim-offender 
relationship
Knew victim/a            60.8 %        52.1 %
Relative                 15.6          10.3
Intimate/b               11.6           8.6
Friend/acquaintance      29.8          27.7
Other/c                   6.5           6.9
Knew none of victims     39.1          47.9

Use of weapon
Yes                      44.0 %        41.9 %
No                       56.0          58.1

a/More than one victim may have been reported.
b/Includes spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, 
ex-boyfriend, and ex-girlfriend. 
c/Includes those known by sight only.

*********End of victim characteristic box************


Mentally ill offenders were less likely than other
inmates to be incarcerated for a drug offense.  About
13% of mentally ill inmates and 22% of other inmates
in State prison were incarcerated for a drug offense. 
In Federal prison, where the majority of inmates are
incarcerated for a drug offense, 40% of those
identified as mentally ill and 64% of other Federal
inmates were in prison for a drug-related crime.


****************************
Half of mentally ill inmates reported 
3 or more prior sentences
****************************

Mentally ill inmates reported longer criminal
histories than other inmates.  Among mentally ill
inmates, 52% of State prisoners, 54% of jail inmates
and 49% of Federal inmates reported three or more
prior sentences to probation or incarceration (table
6).

*********************************************************************************************************
Table 6. Criminal history of inmates, by mental health status 

                         State prison                Federal prison              Local jail 
                         Mentally ill Other           Mentally ill  Other         Mentally ill Other
                         inmates      inmates         inmates       inmates       inmates      inmates

Criminal history
   None                   18.8 %       21.2 %          24.3 %          38.8 %         21.0 %       28.4 %
   Priors                 81.2         78.8            75.7            61.2           79.0         71.6
      Violent recidivists 53.4         44.9            43.7            21.6           46.0         31.6
      Other recidivists   27.8         33.8            32.0            39.6           33.0         40.0

Number of prior probation/ 
incarceration sentences 
   0                      18.8 %       21.2 %          24.3 %          38.8 %         21.0 %       28.4 %
   1                      15.5         19.4            14.0            18.2           14.7         17.9
   2                      13.8         17.0            12.9            14.7           10.1         11.5
   3 to 5                 26.3         25.5            23.6            18.9           23.5         19.7
   6 to 10                15.6         11.6            15.4             7.3           17.6         14.6
   11 or more             10.0          5.3             9.7             2.2           13.2          7.8

*********************************************************************************************************

Among other inmates, 42% of State prisoners
and jail inmates and 28% of Federal inmates had three
or more prior sentences.  About 10% of mentally ill
prison inmates and 13% of jail inmates 
reported 11 or more prior sentences.

****************************
Mentally ill more likely than other inmates to 
be violent recidivists
****************************

Among repeat offenders, 53% of mentally ill State
inmates had a current or past sentence for a violent
offense, compared to 45% of other inmates.  Forty-
six percent of mentally ill jail inmates and 32%
of other jail inmates with a criminal history had 
a current or past sentence or a current charge for
a violent crime.  Among Federal prisoners with a 
prior sentence, the mentally ill (44%) were twice
as likely as other inmates (22%) to have a current 
or prior sentence for a violent offense.

Although offenders on probation had shorter criminal
histories, nearly 3 in 10 of the mentally ill
were recidivists with a current or past sentence
for violence. 
                        
                             Probationers
                         Mentally ill   Other
Criminal history
   None                     43.4 %       54.1 %
   Priors                   56.6         45.9
     Violent recidivists    29.1         17.1
     Other recidivists      27.6         28.8


****************************
Homelessness more prevalent among 
mentally ill offenders

**************************** 

Mentally ill offenders reported high rates of
homelessness, unemployment, alcohol and drug use, and
physical and sexual abuse prior to their current
incarceration.  During the year preceding their
arrest, 30% of mentally ill inmates in jail and 20% of
those in State or Federal prison reported a period of
homelessness, when they were living either on the
street or in a shelter (table 7).

*****************************************************************************************************
Table 7.  Homelessness, employment, and sources of income of inmates,  
by mental health status

                        State prison                      Federal prison        Local jail 
                        Mentally ill   Other              Mentally ill  Other   Mentally ill  Other
                        inmates        inmates            inmates       inmate  inmates       inmates

Homeless
   In year before arrest  20.1 %        8.8 %              18.6 %       3.2 %     30.3 %       17.3 %
   At time of arrest       3.9          1.2                 3.9         0.3        6.9          2.9

Employed in month
before arrest
   Yes                    61.2 %       69.6 %              62.3 %      73.0 %     52.9 %       66.6 %
   No                     38.8         30.4                37.7        28.0       47.1         33.4

Sources of  income/a
   Wages                  56.7 %       65.6 %              54.0 %      66.0 %     62.9 %       77.1 %
   Family/friends         22.0         17.7                20.1        12.0       19.7         15.4
   Illegal sources        23.4         27.0                22.5        29.0       19.4         14.4
   Welfare                15.4          7.8                13.7         3.9       21.9         12.3
   Pension/b              17.3          4.1                16.5         3.7       18.4          4.9
   Compensation payments   3.1          1.9                 4.7         1.8        3.0          2.1

a/Detail sums to more than 100% because offenders may have reported  more than one  source of income.
For prisoners detail includes any income received in the month prior  to arrest.  For jail inmates, 
For jail inmates, detail includes any income received in the year prior to arrest. 
b/Includes Supplemental Security Income, Social Security, or other pension.

****************************************************************************************************

About 9% of other State prison inmates, 3% of other Federal
inmates and 17% of other jail inmates reported a period a 
homelessness in the year prior to their
arrest.

Fewer inmates reported they were homeless at the time
of arrest.  About 4% of mentally ill State and Federal
prison inmates and 7% of jail inmates reported they
were living on the street or in a shelter when
arrested for their current offense.  These rates were
at  least double those for inmates who were not
mentally ill.  

****************************
About 4 in 10 inmates with a mental condition
unemployed before arrest
****************************

Mentally ill offenders were less likely than others 
to report they were working in the month before arrest. 
About 38% of mentally ill State and Federal prison
inmates and 47% of mentally ill jail inmates were not
employed in the month before arrest, while 30% of
other State inmates, 28% of other Federal inmates, and
33% of other jail inmates were unemployed.
  
An estimated 30% of mentally ill and 13% of other
inmates in State prison received some type of
financial support from government agencies prior to
their arrest.  More than 15% of the mentally ill
received welfare, 17% supplemental security income or
other pension, and 3% compensation payments, such as
unemployment or workman's compensation.

r half of mentally ill prison and jail inmates
reported wages as their source of income prior to
arrest, 23% of prison inmates and 20% of jail 
inmates reported income from illegal sources.   

Offenders on probation were asked about their current
employment and sources of income in the past year. 
Over half of mentally ill probationers and
three-quarters of other probationers were currently
employed.  An estimated 52% of mentally ill
probationers and 27% of other probationers said they
received income from government agencies in the past
year.                          

                            Probationers
                       Mentally ill   Other
Currently employed
Yes                       55.9 %       75.9 %
 No                       44.1         24.1

Sources of income*
Wages                     69.3 %       86.8 %
Family/friends            17.9         16.3
Welfare                   26.4         15.5
Pension                   24.5          7.6
Compensation payments     10.2          7.7

*More than one source of income may have been 
reported.


Family history of incarceration and alcohol or drug
use prevalent among mentally ill

Overall, 55% of mentally ill State prison inmates, 42%
of Federal prisoners, 52% of jail inmates, and 40% of
probationers reported a family member had been
incarcerated at some point (table 8).

*******************************************************************************************************************
Table 8.  Family background of inmates and probationers, 
by mental health status

                       State prison            Federal prison           Local jail             Probation
                       Mentally ill Other      Mentally ill Other       Mentally ill Other     Mentally   Other
                       inmates      inmates    inmates      inmates     inmates      inmates   probation  probationers

Family member ever
incarcerated                54.9 %     46.5 %   41.5 %        38.5 %    51.5 %         45.1 %    40.3 %      34.0 %
Parent                      23.4       17.4     13.4          11.1      23.7           18.9      29.6        11.1
Brother/sister              41.8       36.5     29.5          29.9      36.2           32.8      25.7        25.6
   
While growing up 
Ever lived in a foster home,
agency, or institution      26.1 %     12.2 %   18.6 %         5.8 %    24.0 %         11.5 %    15.9 %       6.5 %

Parent or guardian abused
alcohol or drugs
Alcohol only                30.6 %     22.2 %   24.6 %        16.0 %    29.3 %         21.9 %    32.4 %      19.2 %
Drugs only                   2.0        1.8      1.2           0.8       1.7            1.2       1.0         0.4
Both                        10.9        5.7      8.5           2.8      11.0            6.1       9.0         2.4

********************************************************************************************************************

About 47% of other State prison inmates, 39% of other
Federal inmates, 45% of other jail inmates, and 34% of 
other probationers reported a history of family incarceration.  
Nearly a quarter of mentally ill State inmates said their 
father or mother had served time in prison or jail; 42% 
said a brother or sister had been incarcerated.

When compared with other inmates and probationers, the
mentally ill also reported higher rates of alcohol and
drug abuse by a parent or guardian while they were
growing up.  Approximately 4 in 10 mentally ill State
prisoners, jail inmates, and probationers, and 1 in 3
Federal inmates reported their parent or guardian had
abused alcohol or drugs while they were growing up. 
About 42% reported alcohol abuse by a parent or
guardian, and 13% reported drug abuse.

At some point while growing up, a quarter of mentally
ill State prisoners and local jail inmates lived in a
foster home, agency, or institution. One in six
mentally ill probationers reported living in a foster
home or institution for a period of time during their
childhood.

****************************
Mentally ill report high rates of past physical
and sexual abuse
****************************

Mentally ill male State prisoners were more than twice
as likely as other males to report physical abuse
prior to admission to prison (27% versus 11%) and
nearly four times as likely to report prior sexual
abuse (15% versus 4%, table 9). 

****************************************************************************************************************
Table 9. Prior physical or sexual abuse of inmates and probationers, 
by mental health status 

                          State prison         Federal prison         Local jail           Probation
                        Mentally             Mentally            Mentally            Mentally   
                        ill       Other      ill       Other     ill       Other     ill           Other
Reported by offender    inmates   inmates    inmates   inmates   inmates   inmates   probationers  probationers

Ever abused before
 admission               36.9 %     15.2 %    34.1 %     7.6 %    36.5 %   12.5 %        38.8 %     12.1 %
   Male                  32.8       13.1      30.0       5.5      30.7      9.6          31.0        6.5
   Female                78.4       50.9      64.1      36.1      72.9     40.3          59.4       35.7

   Physically abused     31.0 %     12.5 %    27.5 %     6.4 %    30.0 %   10.1 %        28.1 %      9.8 %
       Male              27.4       10.8      24.5       4.7      25.3      8.0          21.0        5.1
       Female            67.6       40.2      50.0      29.4      59.8     30.8          46.7       29.7

   Sexually abused       19.0 %      5.8 %    15.6 %     2.7 %    23.5 %    5.9 %        21.9 %      5.8 %
      Male               15.0        4.1      11.6       1.5      17.2      3.4          14.2        2.4
      Female             58.9       33.1      45.0      19.3      63.4     29.6          42.3       19.9 

******************************************************************************************************************

Among male inmates 25% of the mentally ill in Federal 
prisons or in jails reported prior physical abuse, 
compared to 5% of other male Federal inmates and 8% 
of other male jail inmates.  Mentally ill male pro-
bationers were 4 times as likely as other probationers 
to report prior physical abuse (21% and 5%, respectively).
     
The rate of physical abuse reported by mentally ill female 
inmates was over twice that reported by males.  Nearly 70% 
of female State prisoners, 50% of female Federal prisoners, 
60% of female jail inmates, and 47% of female probationers 
reported a history of physical abuse.  

Nearly 60% of female mentally ill State prisoners, 45%
of female Federal prisoners, 63% of female jail
inmates and 42% of female probationers reported prior
sexual abuse.  

****************************
6 in 10 mentally ill State inmates under the influence
of alcohol or drugs at time of offense
****************************

Mentally ill inmates were more likely than others to
be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while
committing their current offense.  About 60% of
mentally ill and 51% of other inmates in State prison
were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the
time of their current offense (table 10).

*******************************************************************************************************************************
Table 10.  Prior alcohol and drug use of inmates and probationers, 
by mental health status 

                        State prison               Federal prison        Local jail              Probation
Alcohol/drug use        Mentally ill  Other        Mentally ill Other    Mentally ill Other      Mentally ill  Other
reported by offender    inmates       inmates      inmates      inmates  inmates      inmates    probationers  probationers 

Alcohol/drug use
   At time of offense      58.7 %      51.2 %         46.5 %     33.0 %    64.6 %    56.5 %         49.0 %       46.4 %

Drug use
   In month before of      58.8 %      56.1 %         48.1 %     44.6 %    57.6 %    47.3 %         39.5 %        30.3 %
   At time of offense      36.9        31.7           29.3       21.9      38.8      30.4           18.1          12.6

Alcohol use
   At time of offense      42.7 %      36.0 %         27.9 %     19.8 %    44.3 %    36.0 %         41.4 %        39.7 %

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Rates of alcohol and drug use at the time of the
offense were even higher among mentally ill jail
inmates, where 65% of the mentally ill and 57% of
other jail inmates were under the influence.  Among
probationers, 49% of the mentally ill and 46% of
others reported alcohol or drug use at the time of the
offense.

Like other inmates and probationers, the mentally ill
were more often under the influence of alcohol than
drugs at the time of the current offense.  About 43%
of mentally ill State prison inmates and 44% of jail
inmates had been drinking when they committed their
current offense.  Thirty-six percent of other inmates
in prison and jail reported they were drinking at the
time of the offense. 

****************************
A third of mentally ill offenders 
alcohol dependent
****************************

Based on the CAGE diagnostic instrument, 34% of
mentally ill State prison inmates, 24% of Federal
prisoners, 38% of jail inmates and 35% of mentally ill
probationers exhibited a history alcohol dependence
(table 11).

*********************************************************************************************************************************
Table 11. Alcohol dependence and experiences of inmates and probationers while under the influence of alcohol, 
by mental health history

                             State prison             Federal prison          Local jail              Probation 
                             Mentally ill  Other      Mentally ill  Other     Mentally ill Other      Mentally ill  Other
                             inmates       inmates    inmates       inmates   inmates      inmates    probationers  probationers

History of alcohol dependency*  34.4 %     22.4 %      23.9 %       15.6 %     37.9 %      24.3 %        34.8 %      22.1 %

Because of your drinking, 
have you ever --
   Lost a job?                  16.7 %     9.0 %        8.7 %        4.7 %     18.0 %      10.3 %        19.4 %       5.3 %

   Had job or school trouble 
   (such as demotion at work or 
   dropping out of school)      24.0       13.8         15.4          7.1         --         --          25.2        10.5

   Been arrested or held                                 
   at a police station?         35.2       28.3         30.7         18.3      41.5        30.7          45.7        41.1

While drinking have you ever --
   Gotten into a physical
   fight                        45.7 %     37.0 %       36.4 %       21.7 %    49.8 %      34.1 %        43.9 %      30.3 %

   Had as much as a fifth 
   of liquor in 1 day, 
   20 drinks, 3 six-packs
   of beer, or 3 bottles 
   of wine                       48.8       39.5        43.9         29.2      52.9        38.0          45.7        33.7
 
--Not asked of jail inmates.
*Measured by 3 or more positive CAGE responses.  For description of the CAGE 
diagnostic measure see text.

***********************************************************************************************************************************
CAGE is an acronym for four questions used by the
diagnostic instrument to assess alcohol dependence or
abuse.  Respondents are asked if they have ever
attempted to (C)ut back on drinking; ever felt
(A)nnoyance at others' criticism of their drinking;
ever experienced feelings of (G)uilt about drinking;
and ever needed a drink first thing in the morning as
an (E)ye opener or to steady their nerves.  A person's
likelihood of alcohol abuse is assessed by the number
of positive responses to these four questions. 
Clinical tests involving hospital admissions, found
three or more positive CAGE responses carried a .99
predictive value for alcohol abuse or dependence. (See
Substance Abuse and Treatment, State and Federal
Prisoners, 1997, BJS Special Report, NCJ 172871, for
additional information on the CAGE instrument.)  

Mentally ill inmates and probationers were more
commonly alcohol dependent, reporting three or more
positive CAGE responses.  About 38% of mentally ill
jail inmates reported signs of alcohol dependence,
while 24% of other jail inmates reported signs of
dependence.  Among State prison inmates, 34% of the
mentally ill and 22% of other inmates reported three
or more positive responses.

****************************
Mentally ill offenders report negative life
experiences related to drinking
****************************

In response to questions concerning their life
experiences with alcohol, about 17% of mentally ill
and 9% of other inmates in State prison said they had
lost a job due to drinking.  Among jail inmates with a
mental condition, 18% had lost a job due to drinking,
while 10% of other jail inmates reported losing a job. 
Nearly 20% of mentally ill probationers had lost a
job; 5% of other probationers.

Amid other alcohol-related problems reported by the
mentally ill, 35% of State prisoners had been arrested
or held at a police station due to drinking, and 46%
had gotten into a fight while drinking.  Forty-nine
percent of mentally ill State prison inmates, 44% of
Federal inmates, 53% of jail inmates, and 46% of
mentally ill probationers said they had consumed as
much as a fifth of liquor (about 20 drinks) in 1 day. 

Mentally ill jail inmates more often reported a prior
stay in a detoxification unit for alcohol or drugs. 
An estimated 22% of the mentally ill in jail and 11% 
of other inmates reported they had been put in a
detoxification unit. 

****************************
Mentally ill expected to serve 15 months longer than
other inmates in prison
****************************

Overall, mentally ill State prison inmates were
sentenced to serve an average of 171 months in prison,
or about 12 months longer than other offenders (table
12).

*************************************************************************************************
Table 12.  Maximum sentence length and time served by inmates, 
by offense and mental health status 

                                          Mean time served
                  Mean maximum                                  Total time to be served 
                  sentence length/a       To date of interview  until release/b
Most serious      Mentally ill  Other     Mentally ill Other      Mentally ill Other 
offense           inmates       inmates   inmates      inmates    inmates      inmates

Local jail inmates
   All offenses       20 mo      26 mo       6.5 mo    6.7 mo         8.7 mo   10.7 mo

Violent               30 mo      37 mo       8.8 mo    9.3 mo        14.7 mo   16.0 mo
Property              26         26          5.3       8.0            7.4      11.6
Drug                  18         25          8.9       8.4            8.6      13.5
Public-order           8         20          5.0       3.3            7.0       5.7
Other                 10          8          8.4       1.6           10.0       5.3

State prison inmates
   All offenses      171 mo     159 mo      54.4 mo   49.3 mo       103.4 mo   88.2 mo

Violent              230 mo     225 mo      71.8 mo   69.7 mo       142.5 mo  130.7 mo
Property             128        118         38.8      36.6           75.0      62.2
Drug                 103        111         30.3      28.5           49.8      49.5
Public-order          83         81         29.1      27.8           50.8      47.6
Other                120        104         32.5      47.8           60.1      80.6

Note: Because data on sentence length and time served are restricted to persons in prison and jail,
they overstate the average sentence and time to be served by those entering prison or jail. 
Persons with shorter sentences leave prison and jail more quickly, resulting in a longer average 
sentence among persons in the inmate samples.
a/Based on the total maximum sentence for all consecutive sentences.
b/Based on time served when interviewed plus time to be served until the expected date of release.
********************************************************************************************************* 

On average, violent offenders with a mental illness 
were sentenced to 230 months (5 months longer than 
other violent inmates) and property offenders 128 
months (10 months longer than other inmates).    
Mentally ill jail inmates typically had sentences
shorter than other jail inmates.  On average, mentally
ill inmates had a maximum sentence of 20 months, while
other inmates an average of 26 months.  Violent, drug,
and property offenders identified as mentally ill had
average sentences that were 6 to 12 months shorter
than other offenders.

On average, mentally ill inmates in State prison are
expected to serve more time in prison than other
inmates.  From the time of admission to prison to the
time of the survey, mentally ill offenders had served
on average 5 months longer than other offenders in
State prison.  Based on the time of admission to the
time of expected release, mentally ill offenders
expected to serve a total of 103 months in prison, 15
months longer than other offenders.  The largest
differences in time served were among violent and
property offenders.  The mentally ill expected 
to serve an average of at least 12 additional months
for violent and property offenses.   

Unlike State prisoners, mentally ill inmates in local
jails expected to serve less time than inmates who are
not mentally ill.  Overall, both mentally ill jail
inmates and other inmates had served about 6 1/2 months
from the time of admission to the time of the survey. 
On average, mentally ill inmates expected to serve a
total of 9 months in jail prior to release; other inmates 
expected to serve about 11 months.  

****************************
Disciplinary problems common among mentally ill inmates 
****************************

Mentally ill inmates in State or Federal prison, as
well as those in jail, were more likely than others in
those facilities to have been involved in a fight, or
hit or punched since admission.  Among State prisoners
36% of mentally ill inmates reported involvement in a
fight, compared to 25% of other inmates (table 13).

*****************************************************************************************
Table 13. Fights since admission and violation of prison or jail rules, 
by mental health status

                     State prison           Federal prison          Local jail 
Discipline problem Mentally ill Other     Mentally ill Other    Mentally ill Other
reported by inmate inmates      inmates   inmates      inmates  inmates      inmates

Number of fights 
since admission
None                 64.3 %      75.6 %      79.4 %     90.9 %   80.9 %        86.7 %
1                    11.4         9.6        11.6        5.2      9.4           7.0
2 to 3               12.8         7.8         5.2        2.5      7.0           4.1
4 or more            11.5         7.1         3.8        1.4      2.6           2.3
     
Charged with 
breaking
prison or 
jail rules           62.2 %      51.9 %      41.2 %      32.7 %  24.5 %        16.0 %

***************************************************************************************** 

Mentally ill inmates in Federal prison were over twice
as likely as others to report involvement in a fight
(21% compared to 9%).  

Twenty-four percent of mentally ill State prison
inmates had been involved in two or more fights since
admission, and 12% reported involvement in four or
more fights.  Among jail inmates 10% of the mentally ill 
had been involved in two or more fights, compared 6% of 
those not mentally ill.

Consistent with their more frequent involvement in
fights, disciplinary problems were more common among
mentally ill inmates than other inmates.  More than 6
in 10 mentally ill State prison inmates had been
formally charged with breaking prison rules since
admission.  About half of other inmates reported they
had been charged with breaking the rules.  Among
Federal prison inmates 41% of the mentally ill had been 
charged with a rule violation, compared to 33% of inmates 
not identified as mentally ill.

****************************
6 in 10 mentally ill received treatment while incarcerated
****************************

An estimated 60% of the mentally ill in State and
Federal prison received some form of mental health
treatment during their current period of incarceration
(table 14). 

********************************************************************

Table 14.  Mental health treatment in prison or jail or on probation  
for those identified as mentally ill

                        Percent of mentally ill offenders 
                        State       Federal   Local
                        prison      prison    jail        Probation

Since admission, 
the offender had --

Been admitted overnight 
to a mental hospital 
or treatment program       23.6 %       24 %   9.3 %      12.2 %

Taken a prescribed 
medication                 50.1       49.1    34.1        36.5

Received counseling
or therapy                 44.1       45.6    16.2        44.1

Received any mental 
health services            60.5       59.7    40.9        56.0

********************************************************************

Fifty percent said they had taken prescription medication;
44% had received counseling or therapy; and 24% had been 
admitted overnight to a mental hospital or treatment 
program.

Among jail inmates, 41% of those identified as
mentally ill had received some form of mental health
services since admission.  The majority of those
receiving treatment (34%) had been given medication. 
Fewer jail inmates (16%) than State prisoners (44%)
said they had received counseling or therapy since
admission.  

Just over half of mentally ill probationers had
received treatment since their sentence to community
supervision.  Counseling was the most common 
form of treatment (44%), followed by medication (37%), 
and an overnight stay in a mental hospital or treatment 
program (12%).

When sentenced to probation, an offender may be
required by the court or probation agency to meet
various conditions of the sentence, such as
maintaining employment, submitting to drug testing, or
participating in treatment.  An estimated 13% of
probationers were required to seek mental health
treatment as a condition of their sentence. 
Forty-three percent of those required to participate
in treatment had done so by the time of the survey. 

****************************
Female mentally ill more likely than males to report
treatment
****************************

Nearly 70% of mentally ill females in State prison,
77% of those in Federal prison, and 56% in local jails
received mental health services while incarcerated,
while 60% of males in State prison, 57% in Federal
prison, and 38% in local jails reported treatment.

White mentally ill inmates reported higher rates of
treatment than black or Hispanic offenders.  About 64% 
of white State prison inmates identified as mentally
ill had received treatment, compared to 56% of black
offenders and 60% of Hispanic offenders. 
              
                  Percent of mentally ill receiv-
                  ing mental health services

                  State         Federal     Local
                  prison        prison      jail

Gender
Male               59.9 %       57.4 %      38.4 %
Female             67.3         76.5        56.2

Race/ Hispanic 
origin
White              64.1 %       65.4 %      44.7 %
Black              56.4         50.0        34.2
Hispanic           59.9         62.5        40.6


Overall, 17% of inmates in State prison, 10% in
Federal prison, 11% in local jails, and 12% of those
on probation had received some form of mental health
services since their current admission to prison or
jail or sentence to probation.  The most common form
of treatment in local jails was medication, reported
by 9% of inmates.  Probationers were more likely to
have received counseling (10%) than to have taken
medication (6%) while under supervision.  Among State
prison inmates 12% said they received medication while
incarcerated, and 12% participated in counseling or
therapy.                       
                        Percent of all offenders
                        who received mental
                        treatment

State prison inmates           17.4 %
Federal prison inmates         10.0
Local jail inmates             11.4
Probationers                   11.5

***************************************************************************************
Appendix table 1.  Standard errors of mental health status for inmates and probationers

               Estimated standard errors 
               State prison       Federal prison    Jail 
               inmates            inmates           inmates      Probationers

Identified as 
mentally ill         0.40 %             0.55 %       0.61 %        0.89 %

Reported a mental 
or emotional 
condition            0.33               0.45         0.54          0.84

Because of a mental 
or emotional problem, 
inmate had --

Been admitted 
to a hospital 
overnight            0.34               0.45         0.47          0.67

***************************************************************************************

***************************************************************************************

Appendix table 2.  Standard errors of selected characteristics of mentally 
ill inmates and probationers

                     Estimated standard errors 
                     State prison                  Federal prison              Local jail              Probation
Selected             Mentally ill       Other      Mentally ill  Other         Mentally ill Other      Mentally ill   Other 
characteristic       inmates            inmates    inmates       inmates       inmates      inmates    probationers  probationers 

Current offense
  Violent                  1.36 %          0.60 %   3.65 %           0.75 %    1.7 %        0.84 %       2.74 %           1.03 %
   Property                1.17            0.49     2.19             0.55      1.6          0.76         2.79             1.20
   Drug                    0.91            0.50     3.81             1.05      1.2          0.72         2.23             1.08
   Public-order            0.81            0.36     2.92             0.78      1.6          0.83         2.62             1.24
  
Criminal history
  Any priors               1.06            0.49     3.33             1.07      1.5          0.89         3.03             1.35

Alcohol/drug use
  at time of offense       1.35            0.60     3.88             1.04      2.2          1.14         3.04             1.33

History of alcohol 
dependency                 1.29            0.50     3.32             0.79      1.7          0.74         2.89             1.10

Ever abused
  Males                    1.37            0.43     3.92             0.52      2.1          0.52         3.24             0.72
  Females                  1.93            1.30     5.63             4.03      2.4          1.46         5.92             3.03

Involved in fight or 
was hit or punched 
after admission            1.31            0.52     3.16             0.63      1.5          0.60           --               --

Homeless
   In year 
   before arrest           1.09            0.34     3.01             0.38      0.9          0.26           --               --
   At time of arrest       0.52            0.13     1.50             0.12      1.7          0.63           --               --

***************************************************************************************

***************************************************************************************
Appendix table 3.  Standard errors of mental health treatment in prison or 
jail or on probation for those identified as mentally il

                         Percent of mentally ill offenders 
                         State        Federal       Local
                         prison       prison        jail         Probation

Since admission, 
the offender had ---

Been admitted overnight to 
   a mental hospital or 
   treatment program      1.15 %      3.32 %        1.01 %          2.00 %

   Taken a prescribed 
   medication             1.36        3.91          2.22            2.90

   Received counseling 
   or therapy             1.35        3.88          1.26            3.03

   Received any mental 
   health service         1.33        3.84          2.16            3.03

***************************************************************************************

****************************
Methodology
****************************

Data in this report are based on personal interviews
conducted through  three BJS surveys, the 1997 Survey
of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional
Facilities, the 1996 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails,
and the 1995 Survey of Adults on Probation.
Detailed descriptions of the methodology and sample
design of each survey can be found in the following: 
Substance Abuse and Treatment of Adults on Probation,
1995 (NCJ 166611); Profile of Jail Inmates, 1996 (NCJ
164629); and Substance Abuse and Treatment of State
and Federal Prisoners, 1997 (NCJ 172871).

****************************
Accuracy of the estimates
****************************

The accuracy of the estimates presented in this report
depends on two types of error:  sampling and
nonsampling.  Sampling error is the variation that may
occur by chance because a sample rather than a
complete numeration of the population was conducted. 
Nonsampling error can be attributed to many sources,
such as nonreponses, differences in the interpretation
of questions among inmates, recall difficulties, and
processing errors.  In any survey the full extent of
the nonsampling error is never known.  The sampling
error, as measured by an estimated standard error,
varies by the size of the estimate and the size of the
base population.  Estimates of the standard errors for
selected characteristics have been calculated for each
survey (see appendix tables).  These standard errors
may be used to construct confidence intervals around
percentages.  For example, the 95% confidence interval
around the percentage of State prison inmates who were
identified as mentally ill is approximately 16.2% plus
or minus 1.96 times 0.40% (or 15.4% to 16.9%). 

These standard errors may also be used to test the
statistical significance of the difference between two
sample statistics by pooling the standard errors of
the two sample estimates.  For example, the standard
error of the difference between mentally ill State
prisoners and other inmates who were incarcerated for
a violent offense would be 1.49% (or the square root
of the sum of the squared standard errors for each
group).  The difference would be 1.96 times 1.49 (or
2.91%).  Since the difference of 6.8% (52.9% minus
46.1%) is greater than 2.91%, the difference would be
considered statistically significant.

****************************
Estimating the number of mentally 
ill offenders under correctional 
supervision
****************************

Estimates of the total number of persons in prison,
jail and on probation with a mental illness were
obtained by multiplying the ratio of inmates or
probationers identified as mentally ill from the
personal interviews conducted in the three BJS surveys
referenced above, by the total number of inmates in
State prison, Federal prison, and local jails and the
total number of offenders on probation.

For example, the total number of State prison inmates
with a mental illness was estimated by multiplying the
ratio of mentally ill offenders in State prison
(16.2%) obtained from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in
State Correctional Facilities, by the total State
prison custody population at midyear 1998 (1,102,653)
from the National Prisoner Statistics data collection.



***********************Box****************************

****************************
References
****************************

Guy, Edward; Jerome Platt; Israel Zwerling; and Samuel
Bullock.  
"Mental health status of prisoners in an urban jail." 
Criminal Justice and Behavior. 12(1), 29-53, March
1985.

Monahan, John.  "Clinical and Actuarial Predictions of
Violence" in Faigman, D and others, eds.  Modern
Scientific Evidence:  The Law and Science of Expert
Testimony, vol. 1. St. Paul, MN:  West Publishing
Company, 1997.

Mumola, Christopher.  Substance Abuse and Treatment,
State and Federal Prisoners, 1997.  BJS Special
Report, NCJ 172871, December 1998.

Powell, Thomas A.; John C. Holt; and Karen M.
Fondacaro.  "The Prevalence of Mental Illness among
Inmates in a Rural State."  Law and Human Behavior. 
21(4), 427-438, August 1997.

Robins, Lee N., and Darrel A. Regier.  Psychiatric
Disorders in America: The Epidemiologic Catchment Area
Study.  New York:  Free Press, 1991.

Steadman, Henry; Stanley Fabisiak, Joel Dvoskin, and
Edward Holohean. "A Survey of Mental Disability among 
State Prison Inmates."  Hospital and Community 
Psychiatry.  38(10), 1086-1090, 1989.

Teplin, Linda A.  "The Prevalence of Severe Mental
Disorder among Male Urban Jail Detainees: Comparison
with the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program." 
American Journal of Public Health.  80(6), 663-669,
1990.

**************End of references box*****************

*************Acknowledgments************************

The Bureau of Justice Statistics 
is the statistical agency of the 
U.S. Department of Justice.  
Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D., is director.

BJS Special Reports address a specific topic in depth
from one or more data sets that cover many topics.  

Paula M. Ditton wrote this report under the
supervision of Allen J. Beck.  Christopher Mumola
provided statistical assistance.  Tina Dorsey and Tom
Hester produced and edited the report.  Marilyn
Marbrook, assisted by Yvonne Boston, prepared the
report for publication.

July 1999, NCJ 174463

***********End of acknowledgments box***************


******************Archive***************************

This report and others from the Bureau of Justice
Statistics are available through the Internet --

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

The data from the 1997 Surveys of Inmates in State and
Federal Correction Facilities, the 1995 Survey of
Adults on Probation, and the 1996 Survey of Inmates in
Local Jails are available from the National Archive of
Criminal Justice Data, maintained by the Inter-university
Consortium for Political and Social Research at the 
University of Michigan, 1-800-999-0960.  The archive 
may also be accessed through the BJS Internet site.

*****************End of box*************************


End of ascii version
Mental Health and Treatment of Inmates and Probationers
NCJ 174463
Bureau of Justice Statistics
7/9/99 ih th