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Document Type
Restricted CORE Hall of Fame Paper
Publication Date
2020
Abstract/Excerpt
[Excerpt] With millions of people incarcerated in the United States alone, it is well known that America has one of the worst prison systems in the world. Unlike other nations, our system revolves around the idea of punishment and is meant to make the lives of the prisoners very uncomfortable. One thing most American prisons lack is mental health care. America as a whole is growing and becoming more effective when treating people with mental illnesses. The general population not incarcerated generally have more support and options to receive help than people who are incarcerated; however, inside prisons is where people don’t receive the help they need. Not many people would care about this imbalance, but also fail to realize that with poor mental health care systems, it’s harder for those incarcerated to grow as individuals and change out of bad habits that got them in jail in the first place. Mental health is a very important subject that when not treated correctly and with care, it can cause an individual to do things they would not normally do. Prison employees were often found to have a change in mental state and personalities as well as the inmates. Although American prison systems have been slowly reforming, they still have poor mental health care policies and need to focus more on restorative justice systems in order to create a healthier environment for the individuals incarcerated there and working there.
Recommended Citation
Imburgia, Meg, "Mental Health Care in Prisons Needs Reformation" (2020). CORE Hall of Fame Papers. 28.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/chofp/28
