Various factors influence the ability of prisoners to thrive upon their release from jail, but mental health difficulties are at the forefront. A recent study from George Mason University highlights the scale of the problem and suggests that many jails in the US are de facto mental health institutions.

The study finds that there are 10 times as many people with serious mental health issues in prisons than in even psychiatric hospitals. As a result, the authors argue that access to better treatment would significantly reduce the size of the prison population.

“This study is important because it illustrates the interconnection between mental health services in the community and the size of the jail population—that is, if counties invest in expanding local health services, then they can reduce how they use their local jail,” they explain.

Reducing the prison population

The researchers believe that their findings are relevant across the federal, state, and local levels as there is a widespread desire to reduce the unnecessary use of local jails. The findings also highlight the connection between the availability of services in local communities and outcomes.

The study saw the prison populations of over 3,100 counties across the United States analyzed to understand some of the factors contributing to the overuse of local county jails, with a particular focus placed on the mental health challenges those local communities faced.

The authors believe that increasing mental health services, especially in counties with smaller populations and higher levels of deprivation, could significantly reduce the number of people in jails and prisons. It’s an outcome that they hope might be achieved in the coming years, with new legislation potentially moving towards that end.

“The new Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has funds for mental health services,” the authors conclude. “If used, that funding can help to reduce the over 11 million Americans who are processed by local jails each year.”