Fundamentals of Penology

Running head: PORTFOLIO PROJECT

Portfolio Project

Colorado State Global Campus

Fundamentals of Penology

September 3, 2011

Abstract

In this paper I will attempt to explain the history of the current issues facing the mentally ill after release from prison and the events that led up to the current increase of population in prisons of the mentally ill. I will also outline the problems my local community is facing in regards to programs available for the mentally ill after they are released. In addition, I will outline my opinion and ideas for programs and treatment for the mentally ill after they are released so that they do not continue to commit crimes and re-enter the prison system.

In the United States in the nineteenth century, specific hospitals were built to house and care for people with chronic mental illnesses, and the care was a local responsibility. Throughout the early part of the twentieth century, mental health treatment had very little efficacy but at least many patients received custodial care in state hospitals. While actual mental health treatment for these individuals didn’t end up having a cure, it provided a stable housing environment to make sure that the mentally ill were supervised and were kept off the street to prevent them from committing crimes. In the late 1960’s up until the late 1980’s the trend for treating the mentally ill was moving towards closing down the inpatient mental institutions and promoting the transfer of care to jails, nursing homes and shelters. This deinstitutionalization of the mental health care treatment hospitals has resulted in an increased of the mentally ill being treated in prisons rather than inpatient facilities. Today, the number of prison and jail inmates with mental illnesses has reached over 50% of all inmates (James & Glaze, Lauren E, 2006).

By shifting the treatment for state run mental institutions to the prison system many problems have arisen that there are currently no...