2-2 Final Project Milestone One Crime and Violence Issue Worksheet

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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324

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Sociology

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Feb 20, 2024

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SOC 324 Crime and Violence Issue Worksheet 1. Choose a topic. What is your chosen crime or violence issue? Choose from the following list and provide a brief preliminary overview. Your overview will simply be 1–2 sentences describing why this issue is important to you and to society in general.  Decriminalization of responsible drug use  Intervention on the issue of campus rape  Prisons as mental health institutions  Militarization of police  Institutionalized racism in a chosen area of the criminal justice system  Other issue (if approved by instructor) My chosen issue, "Prisons as Mental Health Institutions," is personally significant as I've witnessed family members incarcerated when they needed mental health support. Awareness of this dual role is crucial for upholding human rights and ensuring public safety. Misusing prisons for mental health care poses risks to inmates and staff, emphasizing the need for safer conditions within correctional facilities. Addressing this issue is vital for combating mental health stigma and fostering a compassionate societal attitude, leading to cost-effective resource allocation for more impactful mental health treatment outside the criminal justice system. 2. Introduce your social advocacy group. This is an advocacy group of your own creation. In other words, if you were to establish an advocacy group dedicated to the work of your issue, what does that advocacy group look like and what are its ultimate goals (e.g., public awareness, political action, social action, changing laws)?  Explain the work the group does related to the topic area.  Explain how the social issue aligns with the group’s ultimate goals. "Mental State Not Up State" is an advocacy group that envisions a society where mental health is prioritized over incarceration. The group combines various strategies to achieve its ultimate goals: • Public Awareness Campaigns: The advocacy group conducts extensive public awareness campaigns to educate the community about the challenges associated with using prisons as mental health institutions. This includes sharing personal stories, organizing community events, and leveraging social media to disseminate information. • Political Advocacy: The group actively engages in political advocacy to influence policymakers and legislators. This involves lobbying for changes in existing laws and policies related to mental health care and incarceration. The objective is to promote legislative initiatives aimed at

redirecting persons that have mental health needs away from the criminal justice system and towards suitable mental health treatment. • Social Action and Support Services: In addition to raising awareness and advocating for policy changes, the group provides direct support services for individuals affected by the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. This includes partnering with mental health organizations, offering counseling services, and creating community support networks. • Legal Reforms: "Mental State Not Up State" works towards legal reforms that address the systemic issues contributing to the misuse of prisons for mental health care. This may involve collaborating with legal experts, submitting amicus briefs in relevant cases, and actively participating in legal advocacy efforts to bring about lasting changes. • Collaboration with Mental Health Professionals: The advocacy group collaborates with mental health professionals, organizations, and experts to develop and promote alternative models of care that prioritize rehabilitation and well-being. This includes advocating for increased funding for mental health services and community-based treatment programs. The ultimate goals of "Mental State Not Up State" are to shift societal attitudes towards mental health, influence policy changes, provide direct support to affected individuals, and contribute to the development of a more compassionate and effective approach to addressing mental health issues within the criminal justice system. 3. Begin research: Provide summaries and citations of some of the sources you are finding related to this topic area. Include two or more sources here.  The article “Prisons: The New Asylums” discusses the issue of mentally ill individuals being incarcerated in the criminal justice system, using a specific case of Joshua Francisco as an example. Francisco's story highlights the failure of the mental health and criminal justice systems to adequately address the needs of mentally ill individuals, leading to tragic consequences. The article explores the overrepresentation of mentally ill individuals in

prisons, a phenomenon linked to the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1950s. It emphasizes the ethical concerns and costs associated with relying on the justice system for mental health care, detailing the counter-therapeutic nature of incarceration and the challenges of providing continuity of care. The article also outlines various reform measures taken by communities, including crisis stabilization centers, mental health courts, and Assisted Outpatient Treatment. While some progress has been made at local, state, and federal levels, the article underscores the need for widespread reform to address the mental health crisis within the criminal justice system. Bao, J. (2020, March 9). Prisons: The New Asylums. Harvardpolitics.com. https://harvardpolitics.com/prisons-the- new-asylums/  The article “Mental health versus the prison system: Is jail making prisoners worse?” explores the intertwining of the criminal justice system and mental health, emphasizing the rise of prisons as the country's largest psychiatric service providers. It discusses the consequences of deinstitutionalization in the 1950s, which aimed to manage severe mental illness in the community but led to a lack of reinvestment in mental health programs. As a result, individuals with untreated mental health issues often end up in the criminal justice system, where the punitive nature of prisons exacerbates the problem. The article highlights the prevalence of mental health conditions among inmates, the challenges of providing treatment within prisons, and the need for systemic changes. It also discusses various initiatives and programs, such as Crisis Intervention Teams and mental health courts, aimed at diverting mentally ill individuals from incarceration to treatment. The article advocates for a shift towards treatment-oriented

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approaches and emphasizes the role of education and awareness in addressing the complex issue of mental health within the criminal justice system. Alderton, M. (2019, November 13). Mental health versus the prison system: Is jail making prisoners worse?. Insight Digital Magazine. https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/from-the- magazine/crimes-of-the-mind/ 4. Preliminary position statement: Explain your position on the social issue as a research assistant for your social advocacy group. Try to refine your position into a clear and succinct position statement that your advocacy group might use on its website or in its materials. This statement is preliminary at this point, and may evolve as you continue your research. As a research assistant for our advocacy group, dedicated to addressing the issue of the criminal justice system's inadequate response to mental health, our position is clear: We firmly believe that the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system requires urgent reform. The overrepresentation of individuals with mental health conditions in prisons has turned them into de facto mental health institutions, perpetuating a cycle of punishment rather than rehabilitation. Our advocacy group advocates for comprehensive changes, including increased mental health awareness, diversion programs, and a shift towards treatment-oriented approaches within the criminal justice system. By fostering understanding, implementing evidence-based interventions, and promoting systemic reforms, we aim to decriminalize mental illness and ensure that individuals receive appropriate care and support instead of being subjected to punitive measures. 5. Stereotypes: As you work through the research, you will begin to uncover stereotypes related to your issue. What have you discovered thus far? In the course of researching the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, several stereotypes have come to light, perpetuating the stigmatization of individuals with mental health conditions. One prevalent stereotype associates them with inherent dangerousness, fostering a perception that individuals with mental health issues pose a threat, potentially leading to their unjustified incarceration.

Another stereotype revolves around the assumption that those with mental health conditions are inherently incapable of participating in society or adhering to societal norms, contributing to isolation and further entrenching their involvement with the criminal justice system. Additionally, the criminalization of symptoms is evident, with behaviors related to mental health conditions being misinterpreted as criminal conduct. There's also a prevailing stereotype suggesting that individuals with mental health conditions should not be held accountable for their actions, leading to inadequate support and a failure to address underlying issues. Lastly, the oversimplified perception that all individuals with mental health conditions are the same hinders the development of targeted and effective interventions, emphasizing the need to challenge these stereotypes for a more accurate understanding of mental health issues and advocating for systemic changes. 6. Further exploration: What have you come across that you want to find out more about? This section is for notes to yourself about additional research you plan to pursue. During my research, I've identified several intriguing areas that I plan to delve deeper into. Firstly, I want to explore the effectiveness of mental health courts and understand how they contribute to diverting individuals with mental health conditions from incarceration while providing treatment-oriented approaches. Additionally, I aim to investigate the long-term impact on individuals who have experienced incarceration due to mental health issues, examining the challenges they face upon reintegration into society and evaluating the effectiveness of post-release support systems. Another aspect that caught my attention is the intersectionality of mental health with factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Understanding how these intersecting identities contribute to individuals' experiences within the criminal justice system is crucial for addressing systemic disparities. Furthermore, I plan to explore the availability and effectiveness of community-based treatment programs as alternatives to incarceration, along with their role in preventing individuals with mental health conditions from entering the criminal justice system. Lastly, I'm interested in researching ongoing

policy advocacy initiatives related to mental health and the criminal justice system to gain insights into current efforts for systemic change, including legislative initiatives and grassroots movements working towards reform. These areas of further exploration will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics between mental health and the criminal justice system, guiding future advocacy efforts and potential avenues for reform. Note: In many cases, you will write more than the size of the text box provided above, which is fine—use as much space as you need. If you have to go on to additional pages, the boxes will expand automatically as you write more.

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2-2 Final Project Milestone One Crime and Violence Issue Worksheet

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