Journal of Law and Criminal Justice

The Georgia Department of Corrections: A Review of Georgia’s ‘Other’ Public Mental Health System
Jerry B. Daniel, JD, Ph.D., MPH, LCSW

Abstract
Consistent with the increase in the prison and jail population, the number of inmates with mental disorders (prevalence rate) has substantially increased. Even more interesting is that there are more than twice as many persons with serious mental illness in jails and prisons as opposed to state mental health facilities. Essentially, the mental health services provided in jails and prisons have become a separate public mental health service system. Using widely available data, relevant case law, and published literature, this review highlights the mental health services within U.S. prisons, with special emphasis given to one state’s prison mental health service system. Because the state of Georgia has made significant strides in providing mental services to inmates, the progress that has been made within the Georgia Department of Corrections serves as a “case study” worthy of highlighting.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jlcj.v6n1a1