4 . Expand criminal justice system services to reduce jail system recidivism and address the needs of highly acute inmates .
Strategic Objectives Addressed : Breaking down silos ; Reducing stigma ; Building capacity and increasing access to care ; Increasing services for higher-risk groups
Background and Support . Jail inmates are a highly acute population and upon incarceration are compelled into a highly stressful environment where behavioral health issues may emerge . In addition , according to a report published by the Florida Health Justice Project , “ the number of inmates statewide with mental illness has grown continually over nearly 25 years . 5 ” As we know , county lines are easily crossed , so reviewing statewide information is relevant , and the below figure from the same Florida Health Justice Project report illustrates the projected growth of inmates with mental illness in Florida .
Closer to home , in the Polk County jail , inmates identified as requiring behavioral health care are housed in one of two cell blocks – one in which inmates agree to medication management and are otherwise able to share a cell with two other people . The other cell block is exclusively used to house inmates not willing to comply with medication management requirements or are acute enough to require a one-person cell . In either case , inmates requiring behavioral health care – not to mention general population inmates who would benefit from care – receive no ( or minimal ) counseling services . Recidivism rates are high among inmates released from jail . According to a report by the Florida Department of Corrections , about one-third ( 33.9 %) of male prisoners who require ongoing mental health treatment at the time of release return to prison within three years . 6 Locally , the Helping Hands program does an excellent job following up with and supporting inmates who fall under certain criteria . However , the Helping Hands program is not available to all inmates , including individuals who were arrested for committing a violent felony – often some of the people in the greatest need of behavioral health care . There is also a gap in the transition of care from the jail to the community , as inmates identified in jail as needing behavioral health care , often “ fall through the cracks ” ( i . e ., do not receive ongoing behavioral health – including substance use disorder – care upon release ). This notably contributes to the likelihood of a return to unhealthy behaviors and , possibly , incarceration . Similarly , families and the inmates ’ social network do not receive adequate training or support to encourage healthy lifestyles and accountability .
5
Florida Health Justice Project , “ Mental Illness and Criminal Justice in Florida : The Case for Medicaid Expansion ,” June 2020 . https
:// www
. floridahealthjustice . org / mental-illness-and-criminal-justice-in-florida . html
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