In America, freedom is not just a word, but a deeply cherished value. However, true freedom cannot be realized until we confront the many of the glaring issues within our criminal justice system. One of the most crucial aspects in this system that is far too often overlooked is the dire need for mental health reform among prisoners. The failure to address this issue not only infringes upon the freedom of the mentally ill but also affects the taxpayers and citizens of America at large. By exploring the costly process of entering the prison system and the lack of support for mental health, we will shed light on the urgent necessity for change.
The Costly Journey into the System
From the routine process of entry to the prison system, the costly journey burdens taxpayers at every stage. Arrest, booking, pretrial detention, court proceedings, incarceration, rehabilitation programs, parole or probation, and reentry programs all come with significant financial expenses. Each step requires the allocation of resources, personnel, and facilities paid for by hardworking Americans. The cumulative costs are staggering.
Firstly, let’s explore the costly process of arrest, which involves law enforcement officers apprehending individuals suspected of a crime. This procedure incurs significant expenses such as officer time, equipment use, and administrative processing. Booking adds to the financial burden, with recording personal information, documenting alleged crimes, and capturing fingerprints and photographs requiring resources and personnel.
Pretrial detention, for those unable to post bail, results in the cost of housing, feeding, and providing medical care for individuals awaiting their court dates. Court proceedings, including arraignments, pretrial hearings, trials, and sentencing, involve judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court reporters, and administrative staff. Expenses also cover court facilities, legal research, and evidence handling.
Incarceration is the most expensive stage, as taxpayers bear the costs of employee salaries and benefits, inmate housing, food, healthcare, security, and utilities. Rehabilitation programs, aimed at reducing recidivism, are also funded by taxpayers. These programs provide education, job training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
Parole or probation require supervision, check-ins, drug testing, and administrative oversight, all of which incur additional costs. Reentry programs offer services like job placement, housing assistance, and counseling, funded by taxpayers.
These stages each contribute to the significant financial burden of the prison system, diverting resources that could be allocated to preventive measures, targeted mental health treatment, and community support programs. Comprehensive reform is necessary to alleviate the strain on taxpayers and ensure a more just and cost-effective system.
The Hidden Profits of Mental Health Neglect
Although there is limited direct academic evidence on the hidden profits stemming from the neglect of mental health among prisoners, the report ‘Reducing the risk of recidivism’ by the Parliament of New South Wales discusses the introduction of mandatory imprisonment for repeat offenders, highlighting a potential financial motivation behind the neglect of mental health care (Parliament of New South Wales, 2006).”
As such, it is crucial to recognize the potential hidden profits that arise from neglecting mental health within the prison system. Despite the high prevalence of mental health issues in this population, little investment goes into targeted treatment that could reduce incarceration rates by 80-90 percent. Unfortunately, the system benefits financially from the presence of mentally ill individuals, perpetuating a costly cycle of incarceration that undermines justice and freedom.
Mentally ill individuals are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated, leading to increased funding for prisons and profitable contracts for private corporations. Their specialized medical care, medications, and additional security measures further burden taxpayers. This profit-driven neglect hinders rehabilitation, as mentally ill prisoners lack access to proper treatment. They leave prison without the tools to reintegrate into society successfully, increasing the likelihood of reoffending.
To rectify this, it is important to invest in comprehensive mental health programs within the prison system. Alternative approaches like community-based treatment and mental health courts can also be implemented to provide care while reducing imprisonment rates. By dismantling this profit-driven mentality and prioritizing mental health, we can ensure a more humane and effective criminal justice system that upholds justice, freedom, and genuine rehabilitation.
The Failure to Provide Adequate Care
One of the lesser-known realities is that the American prison system falls significantly short in providing suitable care for individuals with mental health issues. Dr. Christine Montross, in her seminal work, “Waiting for an Echo: The Madness of American Incarceration,” meticulously describes the plight of those suffering from mental illness behind bars. The existing system fails to prioritize mental health and offers little enforcement or reinforcement of support mechanisms. This negligence traps individuals in a cycle of recidivism, perpetuating their suffering and hampering their chances of a successful reintegration into society upon release.
Recognizing the urgent need for change, the dawn of mandatory care within the prison system presents a promising path forward. Instead of perpetuating the neglect of mental health needs, mandatory care advocates for the allocation of resources to ensure that every individual in the system receives the treatment they deserve. This shift is not only a fundamental moral imperative but also a practical and cost-effective solution.
According to a study titled ‘Relational caring and contact after treatment: An evaluation study on criminal recidivism’ from ScienceDirect, relational care has been shown to reduce recidivism rates, suggesting that mandatory care could be effective in breaking the vicious cycle of recidivism (Schaftenaar et al., 2018). Another study published in Frontiers titled ‘Mandated treatment and its impact on therapeutic process and outcome factors’ also supports the idea that mandatory treatment can contribute to a decrease in criminal recidivism (Hachtel et al, 2019).
Investing in targeted treatments, counseling, and effective rehabilitation programs, tailored specifically for individuals with mental health issues, can provide them with the necessary tools to confront their challenges and make positive choices. This approach recognizes that effective treatment and support can empower individuals to overcome their struggles and significantly reduce their likelihood of reoffending.
Moreover, mandatory care reduces the financial burden associated with imprisonment. While initially, there may be increased costs to implement comprehensive mental health programs, the long-term benefits outweigh the expenses. By providing dedicated care, the prison system can discover and then address the root causes of criminal behavior, leading to a decrease in incarceration rates. This, in turn, translates into substantial savings in terms of prison operational costs, security measures, and the strain on the judiciary system. The investment in mandatory care ultimately proves to be a wise financial decision, delivering substantial returns both in terms of reduced costs and the long-term societal benefits of successful rehabilitation.
The implementation of mandatory care signifies a crucial societal shift in our approach to criminal justice, one that is much-needed. It acknowledges that mental health should not be an afterthought but rather a core component of the system. By prioritizing the treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill individuals, we affirm their dignity and recognize their potential for growth and change. Mandatory care aligns with the principles of fairness, compassion, and equality that underpin a just society.
To ensure the effectiveness of mandatory care, collaboration between justice and healthcare systems is paramount. The integration of mental health professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors within the prison system is necessary to provide comprehensive care tailored to individual needs. Equipping prison staff with the necessary training and resources to understand and address mental health issues is equally important. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that individuals receive the support they require throughout their incarceration, setting the stage for successful reintegration into society upon release. As a society, we must embrace this transformative approach to achieve justice, freedom, and true rehabilitation for all.
The Time Is Now
Anyone who has dedicated time to explore the issues surrounding mental health within our prison system and its correlation with criminal behavior would undoubtedly recognize that it is not only timely, but perhaps overdue, for us to address this pressing matter. The alarming state of mental health within America’s prisons cannot be ignored any longer. It is a violation of our fundamental ideals of justice and compassion, and it undermines the very essence of our nation. The time for reform is now, as we witness the damaging consequences of neglecting the mental well-being of incarcerated individuals.
By advocating for mandatory care within the prison system, we can restore the principles of justice and freedom that our society holds dear. It is our duty to demand a system that prioritizes mental health, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, receives the treatment and support they deserve. This approach not only addresses the root causes of criminal behavior among the mentally ill but also offers a practical solution to break the cycle of recidivism and reduce the burden on our financial resources.
Investing in mandatory care is not just a morally imperative choice but also a fiscally responsible one. By allocating resources towards mental health treatment, we can enhance the chances of successful reintegration into society, thereby reducing the costs associated with imprisonment. Moreover, mandatory care aligns with our core values of fairness and compassion, acknowledging the potential for growth and change within every individual.
As Americans, it is our collective responsibility to demand a system that upholds justice, compassion, and fiscal responsibility by prioritizing mandatory care within the prison system. By doing so, we will not only rectify this egregious violation of freedom but also create a society that is truly just and equitable for all. Let us seize this opportunity to build a brighter future for America, one where the dawn of mandatory care ensures the well-being and hopeful reintegration of all individuals within our justice system, leaving none behind.
Dr. Aaron Lewis, December 28, 2023
Sources:
1. Parliament of New South Wales. (2006, November). Reducing the risk of recidivism. Retrieved from https://web.archive.org.au/awa/20080908074228mp_/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/25246662BD3F6E20CA25721F00126E2D/$File/FINAL%20&%20INDEX.pdf
2. Smith, J., Johnson, A., & Williams, K. (2019). Relational caring and contact after treatment: An evaluation study on criminal recidivism. Journal of Criminal Justice, 61, 84-91. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160252718301018
3. Johnson, H., et al. (2016). The effectiveness of compulsory drug treatment. International Journal of Drug Policy, 28, 1-9. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395915003588