The journal of behavioral health services & research
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Nov 2002
Comparative StudySelf-reported lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of jail detainees with mental disorders: comparison with a non-incarcerated national sample.
Lack of access to hospitalization is an often-cited risk factor for incarceration among persons with severe mental illness. This proposition is examined by comparing self-reports of lifetime psychiatric hospitalization histories of mentally ill jail inmates with data from a national sample of non-incarcerated mentally ill. ⋯ The data call into question the notion that mentally ill jail inmates have reduced access to psychiatric inpatient treatment, without addressing the adequacy of the treatment received. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore temporal relationships to better understand the relationship between mental health treatment and criminal justice involvement.