NCJ Number
97107
Date Published
1984
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This report of Virginia's Joint Task Force on the Mentally Ill in Virginia's Jails assesses the current status of mental health needs and services in the State's jails and recommends measures for improving these services.
Abstract
Based on a task force survey of all Virginia jails, it is estimated that about 12,000 severely mentally ill persons enter the State's jails each year. The report advises that mentally ill jail inmates can both suffer considerably and pose a management problem and security risk for corrections officers, thus becoming a source of potential civil liability for sheriffs and jail administrators. The task force found that some former State hospital patients lack community services and get jailed on very minor charges. It is recommended that chronically mentally ill inmates who enter jail after being booked on nuisance violations should be diverted back into the mental health system. Treatment while in jail is recommended for inmates for whom diversion is not a viable option. Mental health services in jails were found to vary with the size and location of the detention facility. Other task force recommendations include the following: (1) greater coordination among law enforcement agencies, sheriffs, and community services boards is needed; (2) jail administrators should decrease some of the stresses associated with their facilities; (3) followup services for newly released inmates should be a high priority; and (4) correctional staff need expanded training in mental health issues. Additional recommendations, a list of 26 suggested readings, and appendixes presenting results from a survey of Virginia jails and a sample of a jail's suicide prevention protocol are supplied.