NCJ Number
63835
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1979) Pages: 9-17
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
AFTER REVIEWING JAIL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, ENGLAND, WALES, AND BULGARIA, A MODEL PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING PROGRAM IS PROPOSED FOR A METROPOLITAN JAIL SYSTEM.
Abstract
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN MANY UNITED STATES JAILS ARE INADEQUATE OR NONEXISTENT, LARGELY BECAUSE OF LIMITED FACILTIES AND FUNDS. IN CANADA, A REPORT TO THE PARLIAMENT ON THE PROBLEM OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO THROROUGHLY SCREEN MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THESE OFFENDERS AND TO PROVIDE PROPER TREATMENT. IN ENGLAND, BULGARIA, AND WALES, PROGRAMS FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR A DETAILED MEDICAL HISTORY ON EACH OFFENDER SO AS TO DETERMINE WHAT, IF ANY, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE NEEDED. THE PROPOSED MODEL JAIL SCREENING PROGRAM TO DETERMINE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF INMATES SUGGESTS A THOROUGH MEDICAL SCREENING PROCESS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE INQUIRY INTO CURRENT ILLNESSES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS, MEDICATION BEING TAKEN, MENTAL STATUS, NOTATION OF BODY DEFORMITIES AND INJURIES, AND CONDITION OF SKIN AND BODY ORIFICES. HEALTH SPECIALISTS WOULD CONDUCT THE SCREENING WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BOOKING. REFERRALS WOULD BE MADE TO PHYSICIANS, PSYCHIATRISTS, OR PSYCHOLOGISTS WHEN NECESSARY. INMATES WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS WOULD, WITH THEIR INFORMED CONSENT, BE ADMINISTERED A SERIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS SO AS TO PRESCRIBE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TREATMENT, AN ASSESSMENT WOULD DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND PROGRAM OPTIONS FOR THE INMATE WOULD THEN BE DELINEATED. A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES WOULD REDUCE THE CHANCE OF REFERRING DANGEROUS MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS TO COMMUNITY SETTINGS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)