The chosen crime or violence issue
My chosen issue is “Prisons as mental health institutions.” This topic is essential for me and society as a whole since correctional workers and prisoners themselves are often subjected to violence. Violence, stress, and other factors in such an arrangement of affairs can negatively affect a person’s mental state, which is vital for studying.
The social advocacy group
My advocacy group is engaged in legal assistance to people subject to excessive violence and stress in prison, so their psyche has suffered. The following list contains the group’s goals:
- Identification of the cause of unfavorable circumstances;
- Resolution of legal disputes regarding the perpetrators;
- Help the victim to improve their living conditions;
- Achieving the payment of a fine and bringing the perpetrators to criminal liability.
The given ultimate goals of the group are intended to eradicate existing and (or) prevent new cases of mental disorders caused by prison conditions. Thus, this social problem is consistent with the goals in such a way that these goals are intended to improve the social life of prisoners or prison employees.
The sources related to this topic area
According to Lerman et al. (2021), conducted social surveys show that many correctional officers are subjected to violence, which is a consequence of the negative effect on mental health. There is a strong relationship between violence and symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and the risk of suicide (Lerman et al., 2021). Durcan and Zwemstra (2019) describe how prison conditions negatively affect a person’s mental state. Factors such as overcrowding, various forms of violence, lack of personal space, forced loneliness, and others contribute to the development of stress and induce mental disorders (Durcan & Zwemstra, 2019). What is more, nationwide, about 15% of prisoners—compared to 4% of the general U.S. population—have a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Ford, 2017). According to Ford, nearly all prisoners with mental illness experienced childhood abuse, poverty, homelessness, or chaotic personal relationships. In addition, they are more likely to serve longer sentences than their fellow inmates without mental illness because they are abused and made to feel guilty. Moreover, prisoners with mental illness are more likely to commit suicide due to constant moral pressure and bullying (Ford, 2017).
Preliminary position statement
Most prison staff and prisoners themselves are subjected to violence, which produces the stress hormone, which encourages mental disorders to develop. Our advocacy group considers this an unacceptable manifestation in a tolerant, democratic society and has as its primary goal the prevention of these mental disorders through the protection of victims.
Stereotypes related to the issue
One of the stereotypes is that people consider prisoners of low social status do not need (deserve) legal assistance. Moreover, there is a stereotype among prisoners that it is shameful to receive legal assistance to develop a mental disorder due to prison conditions.
Further exploration
Given the current prison conditions, if work is carried out in prison with psychologists or psychotherapists, it can become a place where mental disorders can be detected for the first time, not because of its influence. When a person is sent to jail, the psychiatric service, working with the police or the court, relays information to the prison medical service to ensure continuity of care (Durcan & Zwemstra, 2019). Find out information about the health of these services, their functions, legal regulations, and responsibilities.
References
Durcan, G., & Zwemstra, J. C. (2019). Mental health in prison. WHO/Europe. Web.
Ford, E. (2017). America’s Mental Illness Stigma Is Denying Prisoners a Second Chance. Time.
Lerman, A. E., Harney, J., & Sadin, M. (2021). Prisons and mental health: violence, organizational support, and the effects of correctional work. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 49(2), 009385482110377.