NCJ Number
127286
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 164-168,172
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The criminalization hypothesis holds that the deinstitutionalization of the seriously mentally ill, which began in the late 1960's, led to an increase in the mentally ill population of jails, which, by default, took over the job of removing mentally ill persons from the streets when their behavior became disruptive or dangerous. A study conducted in Chicago collected reliable jail data and concluded that there is a much higher rate of certain mental illnesses among urban jail inmates than among the male population at large.
Abstract
The report also addressed the relationship between lawbreaking and mental illness, indicating a higher overall rate of serious disorder among offenders. However, the focus of the study was narrow and covered only jail inmates. Despite its implications, the study did not provethe hypothesis as it lacked longitudinal characteristics. Furthermore, it was not proven that the percentage of mentally ill offenders in jail is rising, because the total jail population has increased dramatically over the past 20 years as well. The study also pointed out that half of offenders with serious mental disorders had committed felonies. The study certainly emphasized the need for more mental health services in the country's jails.