Transcript Mentally Ill behind Bars

Harri-Ann Ellis
April 28th, 2011
Meth and More
Conference
Mental Health Disorders: More and more the jail is
becoming the ‘Asylum of Last Resort.’ With mental health
hospitals closing wings, and reducing population, the
majority of these individuals are relegated to living on the
streets. Mentally ill and out of medication, they begin to
‘self medicate.’ Eventually they will come into contact with
the police.
Addictions: Often individuals with an addiction have a cooccurring untreated mental health issue. The addiction
systems from ‘self-medicating’ to escape the
symptomology of their illness.
Our Approach: To identify individuals with co-occurring
disorders and provide these individuals with additional
services and case management to address the barriers they
face when re-entering the community.
Inmate has to be eligible for work release and/or
electronic home monitoring
 Inmate has to have a mental health diagnosis.
 Inmate must be currently taking psychotropic
medications.
 If inmate is in treatment (CDP or DVOP) they
must be in full compliance with their program to
remain eligible for Jail Transition and work
release status.
 Must maintain (minimum part time) employment.
 If not eligible for employment, must be willing to
participate in volunteer employment at a local
not-for-profit organization.

•Assertive
Case Management Components
Foremost concerns:
•
Housing, Transportation, Food Stamps, and GED
•
Medication acquisition and mental health treatment
•
Valid Identification, Social Security Card, and info on
reinstating driving privileges if eligible.
•
Initiating Public benefits if eligible
Secondary Concerns:
•
Connecting with community resources
•
Working with Work Source to assist with employment search
•
Liaison with treatment provider, DSHS, probations, and other involved entities
to provide a continuum of care for the offender.
•
Identify and address any life domain concern that could be a barrier for successful
re-entry into the community, such as dental, vision, and hearing.
Age
 Gender
 Education
 Diagnosis
 Medication
Compliance
 Treatment status
 Homelessness status
 Employment status
 Health/well being
 Substance Abuse

• Dependent vs. Abuse

To impact recidivism by identifying and
addressing behaviors and barriers that continue
to bring the person into contact with the criminal
justice system. This is accomplished with an
incremental re-integration approach back into
the community, with supports in place for long
term success
• The long term goal of the program is that assertive case
management will reduce arrest rates, jail days, ER visits for
psychiatric reason, and impacts the degree of new crimes
committed by mentally ill offenders that have participated
in the Jail Transitions Program.
•Limitations are:
•Limited resources, severe budget constraints to social service agencies.
•Agencies designed to serve low income/uninsured are over-taxed by the influx
of the ‘new poor’ seeking services.
•Clients are ‘wait listed’ for 4 to 6 weeks standard. For an individual with acute
and chronic mental health issues this equates to ‘decomp.’
•Benefits are:
•Inmates have form a trusting relationship with correctional officers, staff,
treatment providers, social workers, and mental health professionals within the
jail, thus reaching out prior to committing new crimes. If they do re-enter the
system, they are far less of a management issue.
•Provide link to resources that the inmate would not otherwise have access to, or
be aware of. Slow integration allows the offender the opportunity to
incrementally adapt to responsibility, lack of structure, and making their own
decisions.
•
Program was initiated January 2010.
• Served 40 inmates first year in operation.
• Breakdown of number:
• 26 completed and were released.
• 12 were returned to general population
• 2 currently remain in custody, completing their sentence
*Current research is underway on program success rates to identify what services
were most beneficial to the inmate for re-entry and recidivism rates 1 year post
release. Additionally, looking to identify gaps that still need to be filled.
•
As of 4/28/2011 the Jail Transitions Program has served 20
inmates, this year, that have been identified as having a serious,
and/or recurrent mental health issue coupled with addiction
issues. To meet funding requirements, the Jail Transition Program
must serve 50+ inmates this year.
Never doubt that a small
group of committed people
can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.
Margaret Mead