This transference of responsibility for treatment of the mentally ill to the criminal justice system is not only ineffective and burdensome to an already overburdened justice system, it is also costly. On average, mental health offenders cost more to manage in jail, stay longer, and recidivate at a higher rate than other inmates. The criminal justice system lacks the necessary facilities and resources to effectively treat the mentally ill. Further complicating an already difficult task is the lack of coordination and integration of mental health services in our communities. This lack of training combined with a lack of alternatives for disposition of an incident involving a mentally ill person often result in unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system.
Most jails lack the resources to do adequate and timely screening for mental health problems.
Lack of training, insufficient access to mental health histories, and limited or no diversion options create difficult management issues for jail personnel. Inadequate housing and limited in-jail mental health services usually equate to decompensation in the inmate s mental condition. Discharge from the jail More often than not, inmates with mental health problems are released from jail without proper discharge planning. This lack of planning is usually due to the lack of a formal linkage with the community mental health providers and results in a lack of continuity in care. There are many notorious incidents of violence related to mental illness that I could cite to demonstrate a need for change.