Estimating Costs of Reentry Programs for Prisoners With Severe Mental Illnesses
Author: Linda K. Frisman, PhD.; Jeffrey Swanson, PhD.; Martha C. Marín, MPA.; Erin Leavitt-Smith, MA, LPC.
Source: Volume 11, Number 06, September/October 2010 , pp.81-87(7)
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Abstract:
The number of US inmates reentering the community from prisons is growing annually and exceeded 725,000 in 2007 (West & Sabol, 2008). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (James & Glaze, 2006), over half of these prisoners experience symptoms of mental illness, and almost one quarter have identified mental health problems. This article describes the needs of prisoners with severe mental illnesses who are reentering the community, considers the array of services required to meet those needs, and estimates the public costs of such services.Keywords: housing, income, medical care, psychiatric care, family, medicaid, DMIO, CORP
Affiliations:
1: Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; 2: Duke University School of Medicine; 3: University of Connecticut School of Social Work; 4: Division of Forensic Services, CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.