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TX: Expand program to divert mentally ill from prisons

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Commentary Expand program to divert mentally ill from prisons By MARC A. LEVIN April 22, 2009 Mental illness is a key factor in driving up correctional costs in Texas. There are 42,556 offenders with a mental health diagnosis in prison, 55,276 on probation and 21,345 on parole. Additionally, some 170,000 mentally ill inmates are admitted into Texas county jails every year. Mentally ill inmates cost more to house and they stay longer. They are also more likely to recidivate. Fortunately, there are policies that can reduce both the recidivism and cost associated with the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. First, counties can divert mentally ill offenders from jail through programs that protect public safety while saving taxpayer dollars...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on April 23, 2009 (boomark / email).