No,
the US does not have specific prisons labeled as being for the "criminally
insane," but many prisons house inmates with serious mental illness,
and some facilities are dedicated to treating this population. Due to
deinstitutionalization, large jails and prisons have become the de facto mental
health facilities in the country, with the largest mental health facilities in
the US being correctional facilities like those in Los Angeles, Chicago, and
New York City. The Federal Medical Center in Butner, North
Carolina is a federal facility that provides comprehensive medical and
psychiatric care to inmates with health needs.
Jails and prisons as mental health facilities
Large numbers: A significant portion of the incarcerated population has a serious mental illness, and prisons and jails often hold more individuals with severe mental illness than state psychiatric hospitals.
Largest mental health facilities: Some of the largest mental health facilities in the US are actually correctional facilities, such as Rikers Island in New York, Twin Towers Jail in Los Angeles, and Cook County Jail in Chicago.
Reasons for incarceration: The increase in mentally ill individuals in the justice system is largely due to deinstitutionalization, which reduced the number of state-run psychiatric hospitals without a corresponding increase in community-based treatment.
Dedicated treatment facilities
Federal Medical Center, Butner: This is a federal facility that offers a wide range of medical, surgical, and psychiatric services to inmates.
Specialized units: Within correctional facilities, there are often specialized units for inmates with mental health needs, such as acute care and intermediate care units.
Treatment is a goal: The purpose of these specialized facilities and units is to provide a safe and humane environment for treating inmates with mental illness, though the quality of care can vary.
Challenges and concerns
Inadequate treatment: Even with specialized units, many inmates with mental illness do not receive adequate treatment within the prison system.
Burdens on staff: The high prevalence of mental illness in correctional facilities places significant burdens on staff who are not always equipped to handle the specialized needs of these individuals.
Harsh conditions: The conditions within prisons, such as isolation, loud environments, and stressful therapy sessions, can worsen mental health conditions.
The U.S. has both federal and state facilities that function as specialized hospitals for individuals in the criminal justice system who have serious mental illnesses. These facilities are distinct from traditional prisons and are typically maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospitals or specialized units within federal medical centers.
Federal
Facilities
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) operates medical centers and high-security units that provide extensive psychiatric care.
Federal Medical Centers (FMC): The BOP has several FMCs across the country. One prominent example is the facility in Butner, North Carolina, which has multiple psychiatric units for acute and intermediate care.
Federal Detention Centers: Inmates from federal correctional facilities who require intensive psychiatric care can be committed to federal centers by court order.
Specialized Units: The federal system has also activated high-security mental health treatment units in various prisons to care for individuals who previously might have been held in facilities like ADX Florence, but require mental health treatment.
State
Facilities
The responsibility for treating the criminally insane primarily lies with individual states. Most states operate their own forensic psychiatric hospitals.
Forensic
Psychiatric Hospitals: These state-run hospitals house and treat
individuals who have been found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by
reason of insanity, and require a secure, therapeutic environment. Examples
include:
Kirby Forensic
Psychiatric Center in
New York
Department of State Hospitals facilities in California (Atascadero, Coalinga, Metropolitan, Napa and Patton)
which has a specific forensic services unit for individuals committed with felony charges
Jails as De Facto Asylums: It is a widely recognized issue that local jails and state prisons have become the largest de facto mental health facilities in the United States, often holding more individuals with serious mental illness than actual psychiatric hospitals. These individuals often do not receive appropriate treatment in these standard correctional settings, as the facilities were not designed to handle complex mental health needs.
In summary, while there are dedicated, secure psychiatric facilities, a significant number of individuals with mental health issues are found within the general prison and jail populations, where access to specialized care is often limited.
https://www.google.com/search?q=does+the+us+have+any+prisons+for+the+criminally+insane
Comments
The Criminally Insane are not harmless Alzheimer Patients. I expect they are considered “Incurable”. It is more likely that “research” is being done.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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