Prison Mental Healthcare
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS
In 2004, PVP published a comprehensive report, Mental Health in the House of Corrections. Through surveys and structured interviews with over 400 inmates, correction officers, prison psychologists and officials, expert chart reviews and a literature review, PVP analyzed the adequacy of current mental health resources and the impact incarceration has on the health and safety of the large number of inmates with mental illness.
The report’s recommendations included increasing mental health staff, expanding outpatient and residential mental health programs, improving the discharge planning process, and providing additional training to correctional staff to maintain positive interactions with inmates with mental illness.
[download report] 2.05 MB, PDF
SELECTED PRESS COVERAGE:
- Spitzer, Lawmakers Agree to Limit Solitary for Mentally Ill Inmates in New York
New York Law Journal
July 19, 2007
- New Rules for Confining the Mentally Ill
New York Times
April 25, 2007
- Editorial: Prison Horrors for the Mentally Ill
New York Times
April 23, 2007
- A Cell of One's Own
Op-Ed by Sol Wachtler
New York Times
September 24, 2006
- Attica prisoners still face threats to safety, health
Op-Ed by Jack Beck, Prison Visiting Project Director
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
September 14, 2006
- Decriminalizing Mental Illness
New York Times
July 16, 2006 - Step toward Ending Private Hell in Prison
Albany Times Union
June 28, 2006
- Report: Jails' Mental Health Care Poor
Newsday
June 10, 2005
- Report Critical of Prison Treatment
Albany Times Union
June 10, 2005