Pages

Friday, April 27, 2007

Is there a Mental Health Crisis in America's Jails?

Steven K. Erickson, a forensic psychologist, examines this question in his paper: "What is the True Prevalence of Severe Mental Illness in Jails and Prisons?"

9 comments:

  1. My uncle is a prisoner and I think he might have a mental illness. He seems to have anti-social behavior and anger management problems. I wrote him a letter in February and suggested he read "Inside the Criminal Mind" by Stanton Samenow, asked him about any counseling services available and requested he pay me back for some money I loaned him. I think I might have pissed him off, because I haven't heard back from him yet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. In fairness, my bias in response to the abstract ONLY.

    Sorry to be a one-note.
    As always, even when Alchohol and Other Drug abuse are correctly (mmm..or not) eliminated, as well as (mere?)antisocial personality disorder, (again, who qualifies the danger-State action imperitive?)where within the definition of abnormal mental illness of institutionalised folk lie. Would that be before, or after, substantial sequestered time?

    I find it hard to believe an evaluation entity, officially licenced, and assured exorbitant payment would reach findings contrary to the designs of,..say, a
    DA in desperate need of a "results" resume, or a potential grand prize contestant whose position is in line for "empathy" from the assessor. There's a mighty thick book of "discovered and/or described" options to choose from.

    Severe mental illnesses? So what?
    Oh, I suppose the sociopathic clear and present danger tag must be implied by dependants of the prison system, or conversly, exceptional exception must be demanded by those dependant on the "and other institutions" industry.

    Without pinning down a bit more of that inconveniant shadow of a doubt stuff, I generally dismiss the ever expanding forensic roll in an increasingly political mental illness industry- moot.

    If only they weren't recently "attached" by the DV industry, I'd hold more stock in the theses of hairdressers and barbers.

    Simply, "We're ALL bozos on this bus!"

    ReplyDelete
  3. CaptDMO: WHAT???

    ReplyDelete
  4. Some of us are more bozo than others.

    Trey

    ReplyDelete
  5. ANON 6:26
    Which complex phenomina, greatly condensed with metephor and nods to historic philosophies for brevity,
    is beyond your grasp?

    Which words are confusing in their actual definition compared to their "common" usage?

    Did you hyper-link to the piece our host refered to? Perhaps that would provide an appropriate context.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes you can get useful insights from a non-expert. I highly recommend the group of essays linked from here:

    http://www.seraphicpress.com/archives/2007/04/post_62.php

    The author, a Hollywood screenwriter, discusses his experiences doing interviews in a women's prison.

    ReplyDelete