High Recidivism for Mentally Ill

Jarrod is one of the state’s nearly 7,000 inmates with mental illnesses; a group that, as of June 2008, accounted for one-third of the total prison population of roughly 23,000. In the last few decades, since mental institutions have been shut down in favor of community-based care, prison has become a revolving door for Jarrod and others with mental illnesses. These inmates rarely get needed medications and treatment on either side of prison walls. It is not a phenomenon unique to Wisconsin, but rather a growing problem plaguing prisons across the country.

Now, because of a recent state audit and two lawsuits against the state, the treatment of Wisconsin’s mentally ill inmates is in the spotlight. The state is under a fast-approaching deadline to upgrade conditions for mentally ill inmates at Taycheedah, the state’s only female prison, in Fond du Lac. Among other things, correctional officers will no longer be allowed to hand out medication, a change that may well put pressure on the state to discontinue that practice in its male prisons as well.

The audit, which Rep. Joe Parisi requested two years ago after a federal agency issued a scathing report about conditions at Taycheedah, reveals such problems are system-wide: Mentally ill inmates receive inadequate treatment and therapy, which leads to self-destructive behavior, violent behavior toward guards and, ultimately, a high recidivism rate.

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