Self-reported lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of jail detainees with mental disorders: comparison with a non-incarcerated national sample.
Lack of access to hospitalization is an often-cited risk factor for incarceration among persons with severe mental illness. This proposition is examined by comparing self-reports of lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of mentally ill jail inmates with data from a national sample of non-incarcerated mentally ill. Roughly 52% of mentally ill jail detainees reported at least one psychiatric hospitalization, a rate nearly three times that of the comparison group. The data call into question the notion that mentally ill jail inmates have reduced access to psychiatric inpatient treatment, without addressing the adequacy of the treatment received. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore temporal relationships to better understand the relationship between mental health treatment and criminal justice involvement.
Fisher
William H
WH
Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Bill.Fisher@Umassmed.edu
Packer
Ira K
IK
Banks
Steven M
SM
Smith
David
D
Simon
Lorna J
LJ
Roy-Bujnowski
Kristen
K
D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors