Public Sector Responses to Jail Mental Health: A Review with Recommendations for Future Research

Ronald Helms, Ricky S. Gutierrez, Debra Reeves-Gutierrez

Alliant International University, San Francisco, California, USA.
California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA.
Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/sm.2014.41004                

Abstract

The history of public mental health intervention in the US has been uneven and in some instances is characterized by a strong overtone of neglect. While clinical research in primarily private settings has generated findings that give a strong sense of “what works” in mental health diagnosis and treatment, this review pays special attention to the distribution of mental illness among jailed populations. Local jail systems house a substantial number of mentally challenged individuals but receive less attention than is warranted given their numbers. This paper concludes with a plea for research with a focus on the community determinants of mental health systems in order to enhance delivery of services and increase the likelihood of reaching those most in need of mental health treatment.

Keywords

Mental Health; Jails; Community Mental Health; Mental Health Research; Society and Mental Health

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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