Mental and Physical Health in Prison: How Co-occurring Conditions Influence Inmate Misconduct
Session Title
Mental Health and General Wellness
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Political Science
Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Disney, Ph.D.; Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez, Ph.D.
Abstract
The American prison population confines over two-million people in national prisons and jails, a 500% increase in 40 years. Though national and state laws have been implemented regarding the prison systems, some laws exacerbated the problem instead of remedied it. A large issue concerns how the criminal justice system generally, and the prison/jail confinement system in particular, runs afoul of psychologists’ recommendations. While incarcerated, inmates encounter immense mental health challenges; thus, increasing the likelihood of an inmate experiencing solitary confinement as a means of protection or of punishment. Once released from confinement, inmates face barriers as they attempt to re-enter civilian society. Given that so many opportunities, services, and rights are limited, many of the former incarcerated relapse, thereby increasing recidivism rates. This paper highlights why it is crucial to understand how and why imprisonment can exacerbate mental health conditions. Prior research shows the (mis)conduct of inmates correlates with many factors, including their experiences within the carceral system. Poor mental health drives both the misconduct and crimes committed before imprisonment and while behind bars. There is a paucity of research investigating the relationship between concurring conditions and misconduct in prison systems. Nonetheless, there is data demonstrating that inmates dealing with concurrent mental and physical health problems are more likely to engage in misconduct, compared to inmates who are mentally healthy. This paper explores the mental health effects of solitary confinement, contributes to this literature, and supports a prohibition on the practice.
Course Assignment
PLSC 490 - Disney & Ranallo-Benavidez
Type of Presentation
Oral presentation
Mental and Physical Health in Prison: How Co-occurring Conditions Influence Inmate Misconduct
The American prison population confines over two-million people in national prisons and jails, a 500% increase in 40 years. Though national and state laws have been implemented regarding the prison systems, some laws exacerbated the problem instead of remedied it. A large issue concerns how the criminal justice system generally, and the prison/jail confinement system in particular, runs afoul of psychologists’ recommendations. While incarcerated, inmates encounter immense mental health challenges; thus, increasing the likelihood of an inmate experiencing solitary confinement as a means of protection or of punishment. Once released from confinement, inmates face barriers as they attempt to re-enter civilian society. Given that so many opportunities, services, and rights are limited, many of the former incarcerated relapse, thereby increasing recidivism rates. This paper highlights why it is crucial to understand how and why imprisonment can exacerbate mental health conditions. Prior research shows the (mis)conduct of inmates correlates with many factors, including their experiences within the carceral system. Poor mental health drives both the misconduct and crimes committed before imprisonment and while behind bars. There is a paucity of research investigating the relationship between concurring conditions and misconduct in prison systems. Nonetheless, there is data demonstrating that inmates dealing with concurrent mental and physical health problems are more likely to engage in misconduct, compared to inmates who are mentally healthy. This paper explores the mental health effects of solitary confinement, contributes to this literature, and supports a prohibition on the practice.
