The State of Mentally ill Inmates and “The New Asylums movie”
Introductory Summary
Large numbers of mentally ill people are in state prisons instead of being referred to psychiatric institutions in the U.SA. This is at rate of about one patient in detention to ten in general mentally ill population. This is due to the budget cuts and policy changes that do not support mental health facilities but instead cause their closure.
The highlights of the “The New Asylums” film on the mentally ill detainees
This movie elicits and draws a sympathetic emotion and look of concern for people that are being punished for no crimes at all. The question that begs an answer once you watch the movie would be: If people can plead innocence and seek mitigation on grounds of mental illness so as not to be jailed, why would some be in prison for that same state? The movie shows teaches how the state has failed in providing services of taking care of the mentally ill people implicated in offences. In turn, the mentally ill are unable to get professional services, hospitalization and follow-up to help them control their situation. These results in, some mentally ill detainees becoming delusional, depressed and suicidal. The whole problem draws these victims into a vicious cycle where they move between the maximum security detention facilities and the mental health facilities for stabilization. Eventually, with such a cycle the hope of ever restoring their lives to normalcy gets lost.
This is because once back in prison their mental state degrades to its original state. This fails the recommendable practice and approach of treating mentally ill cases as cases requiring special attention It was negatively surprising to find that the prisons are being put to the wrong use of handling the mentally ill-a confine for mental asylums and medical facilities. Patients with needs of special care are simply sent to the prison’s infirmary whereas, some fear leaving prison because they cannot handle life in the outer free world of find people to care for them. However, on a positive note the prisons authorities try to separate mental cases in punishment administration. On some cases the prison’s mental health care is better than some in the community’s settings because close monitoring and the use of force can be applied if need arises.According to Jamie Fellner the average U.S prisons have been made the primary mental health facilities (Director of Human Rights Watch), however, she states that the situation is more serious for inmates who might be seriously mentally ill. This report highlights how mentally ill prisoners are vulnerable to mistreatment from fellow inmates and even guards.
These prisoners are often punished for exhibiting symptoms of the illness through acts like being noisy. The report not only details the suffering of these mentally ill inmates but also display the alarming high number of mentally ill inmates by stating that one in six U.S inmates are mentally ill. This report actually serves to reinforce the picture portrayed by the movie “The New Asylums” which depicts the torturous moments that the mentally ill prisoners face.Conover’s scenic explanation of how the mentally ill inmates are handled in chapters nine depicts a totally unprofessional way of handling the mentally ill. Conover tells of how these prisoners are often looked down upon and abused by other inmates (Conover, 147). Conclusively, Conover’s “New Jack”, “The New Asylum” movie and the October 21st 2003 report by the Human Rights watch call for a quick restructuring of American prisons and policies related to the mentally ill.
Works Cited
U.S Human Rights Watch website. United States: Mentally Ill Mistreated in Prison, October 21st 2003. Web. 3rd May 2010.
Conover, Ted. Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing. New York: Vintage Books Publisher, 2001. Print.
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