Tuesday, March 09, 2004

More Mentally Ill Incarcerated
A Pacific News Service commentary piece - "In the 19th century, many mentally ill patients were locked up in their homes by families embarrassed by their conduct and ignorant about the illness. But with more medical knowledge about the nature of mental illness, this was seen as barbaric and mental hospitals were created to care for these patients. As problems surfaced with these mental hospitals in the latter half of the 20th century, many were closed with the understanding that community treatment facilities would be put in place for their former patients. But these community-based services were never adequately funded so today instead of locking our mentally ill up in our homes, it seems we have opted to lock them in prisons and jails. "  
  

New UConn poll reflects prison reform support (Connecticut)
Middletown Press story - "The University of Connecticut’s Center for Survey Research & Analysis found that 89 percent of those surveyed support sending mentally ill offenders to mental health facilities as a way to reduce prison overcrowding, an issue under consideration this session by the General Assembly’s Judiciary and Appropriations committees. At the same time, 84 percent answered in favor of sending drug abusers to substance abuse treatment instead of prison, and 76 percent said education, counseling and transitional services need to be provided for parolees..."