Film credit IG: @bravenewfilms (https://www.bravenewfilms.org)

An estimated 2 million individuals with serious mental illnesses are admitted to jails each year. While the exact number varies across studies, it is estimated that anywhere from 10% to 50% of those incarcerated have a history of mental illness. One study indicates that approximately 20%, or about 383,000 inmates, have mental illnesses—which is 10 times more than those admitted in state psychiatric hospitals. In addition, nearly 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails).  Only 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons, and less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.

Mental Health Services offered in correctional settings are often sub par and offered in a punitive manner versus a therapeutic one. Males of color living with mental health issues are over represented in the criminal justice system and at a higher risk of being placed in Solitary Confinement than their white counterparts, 38% vs. 7% respectively. In addition, studies suggest that approximately 70% percent of male inmates suffered from past trauma and are often re-traumatized in this setting. Approximately 52% of those incarcerated are due to low level offenses who are unable to afford bail due to limited familial and social ties.

Due to poor pre-release discharge planning, individuals who are incarcerated are often released to the community without appropriate housing in place. This then impacts their ability to keep appointments with parole/probation, causing them to reoffend and return to prisons and jails almost immediately. In addition, lacking housing, individuals are unable to get stably connected to much needed mental health treatment, medical treatment, employment services, case management support, and all other needed services for them to thrive and be set up for success. These individuals are battling paranoia, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and other mental health symptoms that being street homeless only exacerbates. They are then required to attend various appointments throughout the county for services, some of whom struggle with travelling generally, and others who find it hard to re-acclimate while doing all of this. Many go missing and disengage from treatment and/or their post release supervision. Some are violated by parole, others are re-arrested for new, typically minor, offenses and re-incarcerated. And the cycle continues. Much of the re-entry process is simply trying to “stay afloat”, which interferes with the ability to take any meaningful next steps.

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