Reintegration of offenders from special populations poses a considerable problem for the US criminal justice system and communities. This is especially true for offenders with mental illnesses, as they require treatment and individual supervision. According to Abadinsky (2018), the most common illnesses that occur in prison are depression, bipolar disorders, or schizophrenia, aggravated by other co-existing conditions. In particular, inmates often have substance use disorder that poses significant problems for rehabilitation (Abadinsky, 2018). Correctional facilities usually stabilize acute conditions and sometimes overmedicate inmates to control behavioral issues (Abadinsky, 2018). Therefore, case managers in halfway houses face significant difficulties trying to control all the existing conditions. The problem is aggravated by the fact that medical records are kept poorly or not transferred correctly to the case managers (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1998). Considering the facts mentioned above, building halfway houses in the middle- to upper-class community might be associated with significant issues to the neighborhood.
Ex-inmates with mental conditions require medication planning, career guidance, substance use treatment, and mental treatment. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (1998), some mental health clinics refuse to admit patients with substance abuse, while addiction treatment facilities refuse to provide service to patients with psychiatric conditions. Moreover, offenders in halfway houses often do not have health insurance (Abadinsky, 2018). Therefore, offenders may fail to receive proper services, especially in the middle- to upper-class communities, where the prices for medical services are high. Moreover, community members may have prejudice about former inmates, which can affect socialization. However, in such communities, the crime levels and availability of illicit drugs are low, which can decrease the chances of recidivism.
References
Abadinsky, H. (2018). Probation and parole: Corrections in the community (13th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (1998). Continuity of offender treatment for substance use disorders from institution to community. NCBI.