Mental Health: Inside the Walls of a Broken System - Race Part 3 of 5

The United States of America has the highest rate of incarceration globally, and it disproportionally affects people of color, particularly African Americans and Hispanics. According to the National Institute of Justice, while African Americans constitute only 13% of the nation's population, they make up to 34% of the males in jail or prison. Hispanics make up 18% of the population and make up almost 23% in jail or prison. The disparities in incarceration rates among these groups can be attributed to systemic racism, and the lack of rehabilitation programs for those sentenced to jail. The lack of rehabilitation opportunities has significant impacts on the inmates' mental health, leading to increased and often severe mental health concerns.

 

The United States Government maintains a policy of punishment in the criminal justice system, treating prisoners as a problem that needs fixing, rather than focusing on prevention as to why these prisoners ended up in jail. Rehabilitation efforts are limited in jails, with the primary focus being on punishment rather than counseling, education, and job training that would benefit the inmates after incarceration.

 

As reported by the Urban Institute, over 48% of inmates in state prisons, serving sentences of over a year, are diagnosed with mental health illnesses. As a result, these illnesses contribute to their incarceration and lead to a vicious cycle of recidivism. For many African Americans and Hispanic inmates, minimal rehabilitation programs exist that focus on treating mental health disorders. Low rehabilitation opportunities affect the inmates' chances of gaining the right mental health services that would benefit them during their time in jail.

 

Additionally, the lack of rehabilitation services usually leads to building up more anger and negative emotions, affecting mental health during incarceration and even for after their release into society. Harris & Kellerfurther support the argument that those convicted of drug charges have increased chances of recidivism if they serve their sentence in prison, which further affects their mental health.

 

Often, upon release, inmates find themselves with minimal job options due to the lack of job training and education provided to them while incarcerated. This leads to a direct impact on the exconvicts' ability to afford proper medication for their mental health, pay for therapy sessions, and support themselves financially. These socioeconomic barriers increase the likelihood that exconvicts will return to jail, and it has been reported that exconvicts have a greater than 60% likelihood of being rearrested within three years of release. Therefore, a lack of rehabilitation opportunities coupled with marginalized socioeconomic and racial backgrounds leave many feeling vulnerable and further slipping to mental illnesses.

 

The problem of racial disparities in the criminal justice system and the lack of rehabilitation programs for inmates is multi-faceted and cannot be solved overnight. To tackle this issue, we must work towards having rehabilitation programs designed to meet the needs of those incarcerated and focus on mental health treatment for inmates. Offering mental health treatment to inmates will lead to a significantly lower recidivism rate, saving billions spent on recurrent incarceration.

 

Reforms need to be instituted to counter the current paradigm used in the criminal justice system. A reduction in mandatory minimums for drug offenses, the use of non-fatal diversion programs, expanding the availability of mental health services, and eliminating racism and prejudice across the criminal justice system could be practical initiatives. 

 

Research by the Urban Institute reveals that intervention means, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy, have been successful in promoting behavior change amongst inmates, reducing recidivism rates, and indirectly advancing mental health improvement.

 

Additionally, rehabilitation programs that focus on job training, education, and aftercare services for the inmates should be prioritized so that they could lead a better life outside of jails post-sentencing. The investment in these programs would encourage the reduction of crime, promoting mental health treatment, facilitating life outside of jails, saving funds used for recurrent incarceration, and helping to eliminate unfair biases present in our criminal justice system.

 

In conclusion, the United States has the highest incarceration rates in the world, with people of color disproportionately affected. Additionally, incarceration rates are directly related to a lack of rehabilitation programs for those sentenced to jail, which, in turn, leads to an increase in overall mental health issues, amongst other things. To address the mental health crisis faced by inmates, rehabilitating inmates should become a priority, including mental health treatment and counseling. Rehabilitation services and treatment need to be expanded to address the causes that lead to the crime committed rather than punishment, therefore breaking the cycles of recidivism and preventing racial disparities in incarceration and recidivism. Tackling these institutional problems will take time, collaboration, and commitment, but the short-term and long-term gains are beneficial for society. Implementation of cost-effective practical solutions will ensure a safe, healthy, and beautiful country to live, for all races and cultural backgrounds.