Using These Fact Sheets

These fact sheets have been prepared for mental health advocates to present information to policymakers in their state. They provide a detailed picture of the problem of criminal justice involvement and incarceration in jail or prison of individuals with serious mental illnesses whose needs would better be met through improvements in the community mental health system.

The issue of people with mental illnesses in jail is receiving increasing attention in the media, in state legislatures, in the U.S. Congress and among state agencies. This is a positive development. It comes at a time when program approaches have been tested in a number of communities around the country, but not yet implemented in a systemic or widespread manner. The programs cited in fact sheets 6-10 have proven track records; several have outcomes and cost data that show their effectiveness. It is time to adopt similar approaches in every community.

These fact sheets summarize the problem (fact sheets 1-3), present the policy issues that must be addressed in dealing with the problem (fact sheets 4-5), summarize successful program initiatives from around the country (fact sheets 6-10) and discuss the always vexing problem of securing resources (fact sheet 11).

It is the Bazelon Center's hope that these fact sheets will prove useful to policymakers seeking to understand how to address this growing problem in a responsible way. Criminal justice systems should not be viewed as the door to mental health services and supports for those with serious mental illnesses. These systems are ill-equipped to handle such issues and the current situation drains community resources that could be better spent.

It is time to end the neglect of public mental health systems and to mandate that they serve those with serious and difficult problems. The individuals needing services deserve no less, and such policies can relieve the stress on law enforcement and court and corrections systems, creating a win-win situation for all.

Next: Overview of Criminal Justice System's Involvement with People with Serious Mental Illnesses