From Safety and Justice Challenge
Since 2015, Policy Research, Inc. (PRI) has partnered with MacArthur’s Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) to reduce the number of individuals involved, or at risk of involvement with, the criminal legal system who have mental illness, substance use, and other complex needs. Studies highlight the importance of concentrating on this population as communities work to tackle the misuse and overuse of jails and create more equitable systems:
About 5% of the general population has a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), compared with 5% of men and 31% of women incarcerated in local jails. An even greater percentage of both groups lives with broader mental health needs and are prescribed psychotropic medication.
63% of those incarcerated in jail have a substance use disorder.
People with mental illness often remain in jail longer than individuals without.
Despite overall jail population reductions in the last few years, many communities participating in the Safety and Justice Challenge have seen the proportion of individuals with mental illness increase.
Despite stigmatizing myths, the majority of individuals with mental illness are not violent and the majority of violent acts are not committed by those with mental illness. Continue reading >>>
|
|
|
|
