Prison madness : the mental health crisis behind bars and what we must do about it / Terry A. Kupers ; forward by Hans Toch.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kupers, Terry Allen.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prisoners--Mental health--United States.

Prisoners.

Prisoners--Mental health services--United States.

Prisoners--Medical care--United States.

Prisoners--Medical care.

Correctional psychology.

Criminal justice, Administration of--Health aspects.

Criminal justice, Administration of.

Prisoners--Mental health services.

Prisoners--Mental health services--U.S. states.

Prisoners--Mental health.

United States.

Criminal justice, Administration of--Health aspects--United States.

Correctional psychology--United States.

Physical Description:

xxxii, 301 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, [1999]

Summary:

This important book uncovers a major crisis -- the rampant warehousing and mistreatment of up to half a million mentally ill people in correctional institutions. Whether they enter the system with mental illness or develop mental disorders as a result of harsh conditions within the system, the fact remains that our jails and prisons have, by default, become the largest asylum in the country. They amount to woefully inadequate psychiatric wards with few or no treatment facilities, and they continuously receive and spew out a succession of sick, violent, and often dangerous people. These inmates, once released, constitute a real and documented threat to individuals, communities, and society at large.

This passionate book documents the incredible circumstances of incarceration for the mentally disturbed -- including special issues for racial minorities, gays, and women -- and calls for appropriate services and rehabilitation. It is the first book to signal a growing social, political, legislative, and judicial movement championing landmark class-action suits that have declared current treatment of mentally disordered prisoners as "cruel and unusual punishment". Prison Madness is a fascinating, highly original piece of advocacy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-289) and index.

ISBN:

0787943614

OCLC:

39627441