Overview: For this assignment, you will write a short paper proposing a solution to the specific issue you have chosen to research for your final project. This should be an evidence-based solution, one comprised from the analysis you have done so far on your chosen issue. By proposing a solution to a significant issue and analyzing how this issue negatively affects public perception of the criminal justice system, this paper will help prepare you for the preliminary recommendations you will offer to the mayor as part of Milestone Three in Module Seven.
First, to assist you in this task, consider the problem-solving method known as SARA (scanning, analysis, response, and assessment) as well as the problem analysis triangle outlined by the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing.
Prompt (Format): Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
1. Issue Presented: Summarize the issue in the form of a brief one-sentence question.
2. Short Answer: Provide a short answer which summarizes the conclusion of the paper.
3. Statement of Facts: Describe how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system.
4. Discussion: Provide a brief discussion of the issue, including the recent history of the issue and any legal precedents related to it.
5. Conclusion: Provide a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section.
6. Recommendations:
a) What are some of the complexities to proposing a solution to your chosen issue? b) What immediate actions need to be taken to implement the proposed solution? Be sure to justify the necessity and feasibility of these actions with evidence. c) What are the types of necessary data required to assess whether or not your proposed solution will be successful in its implementation? d) Apply criminological theory to justify how your proposed solution will address the underlying causes of the issue.
Reference your course readings to support your submission.
The Problem-Solving Strategies and Sample document is helpful to review to understand how a problem-solving strategy can be applied.
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Why Mental Health is a Concern in the Criminal Justice System
CJ 500
David Boardman
1
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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In todays society, the increasing number of people with mental health and substance
abuse problems in the criminal justice system has huge monetary, health and human costs. Some
of these mental health issues can include PTSD, depression, bi-polar disorder or split
personalities to name a few. We need to try and divert these individuals away from the penal
system and toward more adequate and competent mental health-based facilities to provide them
the support they need and eliminate unnecessary involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice
system. In order to help reduce the involvement all entities within the criminal justice system
from police officers all the way up to the legislators need to work together. Keeping people with
mental health and substance abuse issues out of the juvenile and criminal justice system,
supporting people with these issues in a proper manner and eliminating unfair practices and
punishments will help to improve this issue.
People who are experiencing an issue with mental health are more likely to encounter
police than get medical help, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. As a result,
64 percent of jail inmates have a mental health problem, according to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics (NCSL, 2017). And according to NAMI, at least 83% of jail inmates with a mental
illness did not have access to needed treatment. The way mental health hospitals were run back
in the day were often dangerous and failed the patients. Now, police and the criminal justice
system have had to pick up the slack and deal with this issue head on. Most people with mental
illness are not violent. Many are locked up for low-level crimes such as loitering, littering,
criminal trespassing, and drug possession. Indeed, people with mental illness are more likely to
be victims, not culprits of violence. NAMI states that each year 2 million people with serious
mental illnesses are admitted to US jails. Until recent, there hasnt really been a policy on mental
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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health individuals, nor has there been the proper funding or facilities to help serve these
individuals and their needs.
Mental health issues within the criminal justice system have become such an issue mainly
due to the lack of funding and treatment that is provided for these individuals. Treatment for
conditions such as bi polar or schizophrenia are costly and finding the right type of treatment
facilities are difficult. Even if there is treatment for those struggling with something like a drug
addiction, the quality of the treatment varies. In order to remedy this issue and reduce the human
and fiscal cost and consequences of repeated arrests and imprisonment for people with
behavioral health issues, improved access to behavioral health services must be made available
to individuals involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
There has always been a stigma on how the public views those with mental illnesses and
the crimes that are connected with them. Most people assume that those who have a mental
health condition will behave or act erratically, potentially even dangerously. This creates a
stigma that the mentally ill are violent criminals. Yes, those who commit crime need to face
consequences, but if treatment can be offered first, then why not try that. This obviously depends
on a case by case scenario. The most effective way to decrease stigma is to reduce the frequency
of such violent crimes; this can be done by utilizing different forms of assisted and or mandatory
treatment.
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
References
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2019). Jailing People with Mental Illness.
https://www.nami.org/learn-more/public-policy/jailing-people-with-mental-illness
National Conference of State Legislature. (2017). Mental Health Needs in the Criminal Justice
System. http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/mental-health-needs-ofcriminal-justice.aspx
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Running head: MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAYS SOCIETY
Mental Health in Todays Society
CJ 500
David Boardman
1
MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAYS SOCIETY
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Mental Health in Criminal Justice
Mental illness is increasing in many parts of the world today. Over the years, many
people in the world have been diagnosed with mental illness. In the United States, additional
health care facilities have been cited to react with the population suffering from mental illness.
Funding towards the mental health care systems in the criminal justice systems is thus high but
studies have been used to reduce the mental health care prevalence. There are sociology and
criminology theories that have studied and helped in analysis of the factors contributing to
mental health awareness in the society.
Criminology Theory and Factors Contributing to mental illness
The criminological theory that deals with deviance called the structural strain theory can
be used to explain to individuals about mental health problems. It explains that the variance in
criminal behaviors is determined by the variation in institution norms and the cultural goals. The
legitimate objectives are the one referred to as the cultural goals. Prescribed behaviors come as a
result of lack of equilibrium between the cultural goals and any institution norms. For instance,
the theory explains that when there is more emphasis on the cultural goals and the institution
norms are ignored, deviance will occur and vise vasa.
The theory further explains that when there is a heavy emphasis on wealth as the unit
symbol of becoming successful, and there is no emphasis on the ways of obtaining that wealth, it
becomes a source of deviance. When the expectations and the personal achievements do not
balance, it affects the individuals mental health.
MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAYS SOCIETY
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Issues that Affect Criminal Justice
In the field of criminal justice, more than 18 percent of grown- ups have experienced a
mental illness according to The Bureau of Justice Statistics (Schultz, 2017). Study shows that
jails and prisons are as expected the highest providers of mental health facilitation. There
however lacks a law enforcement data that encounters people who are mentally ill (Schultz,
2017). The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that more than 75 percent of the people with
mental problems are in jails and the rates of getting a serious mental problem is five times than
the general population (Schultz, 2017).
Stakeholders in Criminal Justice
The expectation that jails are the best places for remedies on mental illness is affected by
some factors. Despite being one of the strategies laid to address the issues, less is applied with
less funding delaying the expected results. In a community affected by such issues, a task force
needs to be created where challenges facing people with mental illness can be discussed in the
system of criminal justice. The task force will review the efforts of police force, the state law
makers, the leaders, judges and magistrates, the personnel enforcing the law and all the
stakeholders. Another way would be to have a civilian mental health clinician tasked to the local
police departments that can assess and evaluate the individuals that police officers are
continuously encountering on everyday calls.
Strategies to address Mental Health in Criminal Justice
Such encounters against mental illness in criminal justice will have the involved parties
enact laws governing the issue. This would mean that such future issues which are similar will be
easily solved. The unity between those with mental illness and all stakeholders of the system of
MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAYS SOCIETY
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criminal justice will be as well improved. Such strategies will be helpful to the law enactors and
the law enforcers which includes the judicial system.
Assessment
States and local governments can address the people in criminal justice prevalence that
have mental health problems by multiplying the collaboration of the cross-systems with the
government and policy makers lowering the level of mental illness and enhance improvements in
ways to share information and make developments in the systems (CSG, 2018). This may work
to reduce the number of people in jails who are mentally affected giving a good data plan to
address the problem in future.
MENTAL HEALTH IN TODAYS SOCIETY
References
CSG Justice Center Staff (2018), Reentry Essentials: Addressing Mental Health Needs among
People in the Criminal Justice Systems, (2018).
Schultz, A. (2017), where mental health and criminal justice intersect: a foundation opens the
door for improvements, 2017.
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