Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration for Individuals Suffering from Mental Health Conditions

According to the Department of Justice, approximately half of individuals who experience incarceration as well as over ⅓ of the United States prison populations are simultaneously suffering from a mental illness (DOJ, 2022). Additionally, the American Psychological Association reports that 64% of individuals experiencing incarceration within jails, 54% of individuals experiencing incarceration with state prisons, and 45% of individuals experiencing incarceration within federal prisons have reported to have mental health concerns (DOJ, 2022). Research has also found that within this population of individuals who suffer from various mental health conditions, 64% of them recidivate and are arrested again within 18 months of being released (Lurigio et al., 2004, p.5). These overwhelming statistics support the need for an alternative treatment plan to incarceration, as punitive approaches without the proper mental health treatment have clearly been ineffective in preventing re-entry for this population of individuals.

In many correctional facilities, the cost of incarceration for individuals living with severe mental illnesses is very high. For example, it was found that in the state of Massachusetts, the overall cost of incarceration for individuals living with severe mental health conditions reached about $300 million each year (Johnson et al., 2017, p.23). As a result of this high cost of living, oftentimes these individuals do not receive the proper treatment. More specifically, about 63% of individuals who have suffered from or are currently suffering from mental illness do not receive treatment while experiencing incarceration (National Alliance on Mental Illness). In the instance that correctional facilities do provide mental healthcare, it is often not adequate to meet the needs of the suffering individuals and therefore, do not support re-entry into society following their sentence.  

The population of individuals who are experiencing incarceration and also suffering from mental health conditions are deserving of receiving the proper treatment. Several previous studies have supported this idea by providing suggestions of treatment alternatives. Vera Institute of Justice suggests four effective ways of instituting health and justice into the procedures within the criminal justice system when addressing individuals who have engaged in criminal behavior and suffer from serious mental illness. These include but are not limited to: specialized policing responses (SPR’s), jail diversion, specialized courts, and community reentry planning for individuals who did experience incarceration (Cloud & Davis, 2013). 

1. Specialized police responses include teams that assist individuals who live with severe mental illness in times of crisis and provide them with treatment without an arrest. These teams include crisis intervention teams and police- mental health co-responder teams, which are suggested to relieve correctional facilities from catering to crisis situations (which many are not equipped to properly do), and decrease stigmatization of their condition by providing treatment instead of incarceration (Cloud & Davis, 2013, p.2). 
2. Jail diversion is a cost effective alternative to incarceration, providing programs that assist with behavioral health treatment. One example of these programs is the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) program, which is a justice based- health partnership that has been proven to yield high cost savings and fewer jail bookings (Cloud & Davis, 2013, p.2).
3. Specialized courts such as drug courts, mental health courts, and veteran courts are a great alternative procedural system to assist in the court procedures of individuals who suffer from severe mental illness. The purpose of these courts are to provide the option to individuals who have engaged in criminal behavior and struggle with severe mental health conditions with the option to participate in rehabilitative treatment alternatives to incarcerations. For example, many individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and engage in criminal behavior may be given the option to participate in physical treatment programs, such as yoga. A specific organization that provides a mindful treatment alternative through a trauma based approach to individuals court-ordered to participate in an alternative program include Yoga4Change. The mission of this organization is “to achieve lasting, demonstrative change for veterans, individuals who are experiencing incarceration, youth, and people living with mental health conditions through a purpose-driven yoga curriculum”(Yoga4Change, 2014) . This program does not exclude any population, for they provide alternative treatment to individuals who are actively experiencing incarceration and those who are not.  
4. Lastly, Vera Institute of Justice suggests community reentry planning for individuals who did experience incarceration. Although this service is not an alternative to incarceration, it does provide the proper resources for individuals suffering with severe mental illness to prevent reentry and crisis situations post-release. It was found that “transitional planning to coordinate services for people with substance use and mental health treatment needs in their communities upon release from a correctional facility reduces recidivism and improves health outcomes” (Cloud & Davis, 2013, p.3). 

All in all, these services are few of the many suggested alternatives to incarceration as well as further treatment care for individuals who engage or have engaged in criminal behavior and live with severe mental health conditions. If these practices continue, we would have done our due diligence as a society to build a strong rehabilitative procedural practice for individuals who are system impacted and experience life with mental illness. It is extremely important to support these individuals with treatment alternatives to incarceration with trauma informed approaches, to decrease recidivism and also provide behavioral care to improve their mental health. 

Cloud, D., & Davis, C. (2013). Treatment alternatives to incarceration for people with mental health needs in the criminal justice system: The cost-savings implications. Vera Institute of Justice.

DOJ. (2022, May). Mental Health and Reentry: How Court Services Offender Agency Meets the Challenge of Mental Health Community Supervision. Dispatch. Retrieved May 2, 2023, from https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/05-2022/mental_health_reentry.html#:~:text=Approximately%20half%20the%20people%20in,path%20for%20prisoners%20returning%20home. 

Hern-Johnson, H., Menchine, M., Goldman, D., & Seabury, S. (2017, September). The cost of mental illness: Massachusetts facts and figures. The Cost of Mental Illness: Massachusetts Facts and Figures. Retrieved May 2, 2023, from https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MA-Facts-and-Figures.pdf 

Home. Yoga 4 Change. (2014). Retrieved May 2, 2023, from https://www.y4c.org/ 

Lurigio, A. J., Rollins, A., & Fallon, J. (2004). The effects of serious mental illness on offender reentry. Fed. Probation, 68, 45.

Mental health treatment while incarcerated. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2023, from https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Policy-Priorities/Improving-Health/Mental-Health-Treatment-While-Incarcerated#:~:text=About%20three%20in%20five%20people,in%20state%20and%20federal%20prisons. 

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