1. Introduction: State prisons host ten times prisoners with mental illnesses than psychiatric hospitals(Fields & Phillips, 2013). Previous report indicates that prison wardens have unwillingly become caretakers of the growing mentally disturbed population even with their poorly equipped facilities and inadequate skills.
1.1. Current problem: Prisons have become asylums for people suffering from mental disorder in America
1.2. Population /area of focus: Inmates
1.3. Key words: prison, mental disorder
Thesis statement: Although prison is the appropriate place for individuals who may cause harm to others or to themselves, correctional facilities are not the right place for mentally unstable convicts(Fuller, 2015).
2. Background
2.1. Historical Overview: Mentally unstable patients in the past were being locked up in dungeons and isolated from the rest of the world.
2.2. Connection between prison and mental illnesses: Over 75%cases of mental illnesses are recorded in prisons and jails.
2.3. Gaps in the study:There is little information concerning the efforts made to minimize the increase of mental disorders in prisons.
3. Major point 1: Prisoners are at a higher risk of getting psychological disorders than the general public(Wolfe et al. 2014).
A. Minor Point 1: Mental disorders more common among females and young prisoners.
B. Minor Point 2: Homelessness for prisoners suffering from mental illness
C. Minor Point 3: History of physical or sexual abuse among inmates with mental health problems
4. Major point 2: There is little to no access of treatment for inmates.
A. Minor Point 1: Challenges public health professionals meet in prison
B. Minor Point 2: Effects of isolation in correction facilities
5. Major point 3: The government and public health officials should be held responsible for the growing number of mental illnesses in prison.
A. Minor Point 1: Reformation of correction facilities treatment laws
B. Minor Point 2: Implementing treatment programs for prisoners with severe psychological illnesses.
6. Major point 4: Methodology
A. Minor Point 1: Survey of inmates in correction facilities
B. Minor Point 2: Accuracy of data provided
7. Major point 5: Results
A. Minor Point 1: Data from Prisons
B. Minor Point 2: Data from local jails
8. Conclusion
8.1. Restatement of thesis:Prisoners are greatly threatened byintellectual health complications as compared to the general public.
8.2. Recommendation: Public health professionals should ensure all inmates get medical attention even when under solitary confinement(Brown, 2015).
References
Brown, R. L. (2015). Decriminalizing Mental Illness: The Need for Treatment over Incarceration Before Prisons Become the New Asylums for the Mentally Ill.
Fields, G., & Phillips, E. E. (2013). The new asylums: jails swell with mentally ill. Wall Street Journal, 25.
Fuller, D. (2015). The New Asylums: Mentally Ill and Behind Bars.
Wolfe, H. R., Haas, S., &Olley, C. (2014). Prison Abuse and Mental Health.
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