Many persons brought before a criminal court have mental illness, have committed minor offenses, and are off medications. The judge consults the nurse at the local community mental health center for guidance about how to respond when handling such cases. Which advice from the nurse would be most appropriate?

Question

a. "Sometimes a little time in jail makes a person rethink what they've been doing and puts them back on the right track."
b. "Sentencing such persons to participate in treatment instead of incarcerating them has been shown to reduce repeat offenses."
c. "Arresting these people helps them in the long run. Sometimes we cannot hospitalize them, but in jail they will get their medication."
d. "Research suggests that special mental health courts do not make much difference so far, but outpatient commitment does seem to help."

Answer 1

ANS: B
Research supports the use of special mental health courts that can sentence mentally ill persons to treatment instead of jail. Jail exposes vulnerable mentally ill persons to criminals, victimization, and high levels of stimulation and stress. Incarceration can also interrupt eligibility for benefits or lead to the loss of housing and often provides lower-quality mental health treatment in other settings. Recidivism rates for both mentally ill and non-mentally ill offenders are relatively high, so it does not appear that incarceration necessarily leads people to behave more appropriately. In addition, a criminal record can leave them more desperate and with fewer options after release. Research indicates that outpatient commitment is less effective at improving the mental health of mentally ill persons than was expected.