LEGITIMACY OF CORRECTIONS AS A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: PERSPECTIVES FROM U.S. AND EUROPEAN SYSTEMS

Large numbers of seriously mentally ill persons are being incarcerated because their disturbed behavior is criminalized. The criminal justice system is struggling to manage the needs of these mentally ill persons in correctional settings. This article examines the problem of the incarcerated mentall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the Institute of Justice and International Studies no. 13; p. L1
Main Authors Peterka-Benton, Daniela, Masciadrelli, Brian Paul
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Warrensburg University of Central Missouri 01.01.2013
Subjects
Criminal justice
Mental disorders
Mental health care
Prisoners
Prisons
United States > US
Europe
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Summary:Large numbers of seriously mentally ill persons are being incarcerated because their disturbed behavior is criminalized. The criminal justice system is struggling to manage the needs of these mentally ill persons in correctional settings. This article examines the problem of the incarcerated mentally ill in terms of whether or not the correctional setting is an ethically legitimate place to house and treat these persons. First, it briefly summarizes how we arrived at this problem in the U.S. Then, it examines the problem today in the U.S. and comparatively in European nations. Finally, it closes with recommendations for establishing treatment outside correctional settings and how to best address the issue of mental illness within correctional settings. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1538-7909
1538-7917