Correctional Populations Law Research Coursework Paper

Correctional Populations
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Correctional Populations
The number of mentally ill individuals in correctional facilities has increased steadily, resulting from psychological issues and other related disorders. The mentally ill inmates encounter disproportionate rates of solitary confinement and other related psychological problems. Arguably, prisoners with a mental health condition require a sound classification system to protect vulnerable individuals and protect their human rights (Morgan, 2018). Despite the denial of freedom, prisoners with mental health conditions retain all other rights. Besides, the group is vulnerable to various deplorable conditions that prevail in correctional facilities. However, overcrowding can lead to the inadequacy of mental health services and an ineffective classification of prisoner classes. As a result, the overall rates of mental health cases might exacerbate.
The mentally individuals have a background of a unique set of needs and circumstances that influence their lives. However, they cycle through the system of criminal justice without any form of appropriate care in addressing mental health. According to Sarteschi (2013), mentally ill inmates receive inadequate healthcare services without only a few having a chance to receive treatment for mental health. The offenders with severe mental health illness put more strain on the systems of criminal justice. While the mentally ill individuals have high rates of recidivism and prison misconduct, the accommodation of the group could be costly. Therefore, all correctional facilities would need to implement policies of providing the mentally ill offenders with access to mental health and medical care.
Gender, profile, background, treatment, and offenses are critical elements for the classification of mentally ill inmates. Therefore, the correctional facilities officials must consider the aspects of the process of formulating treatment mechanisms. Besides, the biopsychosocial status of the mentally ill offenders is equally relevant in the classification of the group. For instance, information on physical health stat...