Deinstitutionalization and Other Factors in the Criminalization of Persons with Serious Mental Illness and How it is Being Addressed

Chapter 2 - Deinstitutionalization and Other Factors in the Criminalization of Persons with Serious Mental Illness and How it is Being Addressed

from Part I - Introduction/Description of the Problem

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 October 2021

H. Richard Lamb and

Linda E. Weinberger

Edited by

Katherine Warburton and

Stephen M. Stahl

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Katherine Warburton: Affiliation:
University of California, Davis
Stephen M. Stahl: Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego

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Summary

The United States prison population, including both federal and state prisons and county and city jails, was 2,162,400 inmates as of December 31, 2016.1 The percentage of jail and prison inmates assumed to be seriously mentally ill (as defined in various studies as schizophrenia, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, and psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified) has generally been estimated at about 16%.2 Using these numbers (2,162,400 × 16%) yields an estimate of 345,984 incarcerated persons with serious mental illness (SMI) in jails, and state and federal prisons. The actual number may be somewhat higher or lower, depending on the accuracy of the percentage.

Type: Chapter
Information: Decriminalizing Mental Illness , pp. 5 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108920698 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2021

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