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Self-reported lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of jail detainees with mental disorders: Comparison with a non-incarcerated national sample

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Abstract

Lack of access to hospitalization is an often-cited risk factor for incarceration among persons with severe mental illness. This proposition is examined by comparing self-reports of lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of mentally ill jail inmates with data from a national sample of non-incarcerated mentally ill. Roughly 52% of mentally ill jail detainees reported at least one psychiatric hospitalization, a rate nearly three times that of the comparison group. The data call into question the notion that mentally ill jail inmates have reduced access to psychiatric inpatient treatment, without addressing the adequacy of the treatment received. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore temporal relationships to better understand the relationship between mental health treatment and criminal justice involvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, 01655, Worcester, MA

    William H. Fisher PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), Steven M. Banks PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), Lorna J. Simon MS (Biostatistician) & Kristen Roy-Bujnowski BS (Research Coordinator)

  2. Massachusetts Department of Health, USA

    Ira K. Packer PhD (Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Mental Health Services)

  3. Berkshire County House of Corrections, USA

    David Smith PhD (Psychologist)

Authors
  1. William H. Fisher PhD
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  2. Ira K. Packer PhD
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  3. Steven M. Banks PhD
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  4. David Smith PhD
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  5. Lorna J. Simon MS
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  6. Kristen Roy-Bujnowski BS
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Correspondence to William H. Fisher PhD.

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Fisher, W.H., Packer, I.K., Banks, S.M. et al. Self-reported lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of jail detainees with mental disorders: Comparison with a non-incarcerated national sample. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 29, 458–465 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287351

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