Please see attachments for further details/instructions.Intro (written by me):“The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) found that more than half of all inmates, or over than 1 million individuals, have a mental illness compared to 11% of the general population; and yet only 1 of 3 prison inmates and 1 of 6 jail inmates receive any form of mental health treatment” (Hoke, 2015). Although not all criminals have a mental illness, those who do, often times are underdiagnosed, made worse during prison sentence, or illness goes untreated properly in the corrections systems. Mentally ill patients may have a difficult time navigating the criminal justice system and often times cannot assist in their defense, follow the rules in prison, or follow the rules of probation or parole when released. This research is highly important to address lack of education, increased homelessness, and substance abuse among offenders with mental illness. Eventually, this study will provide helpful resources to improve the justice system related to the mentally ill and highlight opportunities and programs that need to be provided to reduce the recidivism rates.
