<p style="margin: 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">This petition is acting as an outlet to bring change toward the treatment of prisoners with mental disorders. Below is a brief overview of why we are taking the time to advocate for this population. Please take the time to understand the importance of proper mental health, especially as it relates to mental disorders, and how significantly it can impact the lives of countless individuals. As a starting point, this petition will be shared with the Correctional Facilities of Auburn and Jamesville, New York.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Individuals with mental disorders continue to be misunderstood and stigmatized in today’s society. Within countless prisons, there are disproportionately high rates of prisoners with mental disorders. An estimated 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners, and 64 percent of jail inmates have a mental health disorder (Kim et al, 2015). These individuals are far too often deprived of human interaction, any mental stimulation, and adequate mental health care. In attempts to reduce conflict within the prison systems and maintain order, prisoners with mental disorders are often forced into periods of extended isolation, or solitary confinement. While isolated, the mental health of these prisoners quickly declines. For example, an individual with schizophrenia or depressive disorder with psychotic features would not be able to successfully care for themselves or maintain a stable mindset without proper professional assistance, environment, and often medication. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Isolation is not only cruel, but also costly and potentially poses risk to public safety in the future. If the prisoners with mental disorders are released from prison, having only been exposed to isolation and/or been heavily medicated on the incorrect prescriptions, they could be a threat to themselves or others. These individuals would not be properly educated on self-care, medication and symptom management, or healthy interpersonal interactions after having this hindering experience in the prison systems.</span></p><p style="margin: 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">There appears to be a general idea that all people with mental disorders are a danger to themselves and others. This idea is simply a misconception and due mainly to ignorance. It is true that some prisoners may enter the system with preexisting disorders, but others develop them during their sentences. The extreme stress and lack of care, both mental and physical, can contribute greatly to the decline in a prisoner’s mental health status and lead to unsafe conditions in the future for prisoners, staff, and the community. When prisoners with mental disorders are denied the proper mental health care/treatment, their disorders, ma<span style="margin: 0px; color: black;">inly symptoms, are often exacerbated.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="margin: 0px; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Becoming educated and informed on the importance of sufficient mental health care is imperative within the prison systems and the community in general. Punishing prisoners with mental disorders for behaviors that result from their disorder serves no legitimate purpose and raises serious constitutional concerns (Wallace, 2013). The prison systems focus on punishment as a means to an end needs to be reconsidered, especially for this population of prisoners. Access to proper assessments, treatment options, and referrals should be a priority within prison systems. There are numerous options and alternatives that should be considered within prison systems, including; availability of psychosocial support and medication (when appropriate), mandatory staff training surrounding proper mental health care, diagnosis, and symptoms, as well as the </span><span style="margin: 0px; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">collaboration with agencies that specialize in mental health.</span></p>
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