Mentally Ill: A Case Study

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It is unfortunate and a disservice to incarcerate mentally ill persons within a criminal justice institution and not provide them with the health care needed to assist them with living a better life within society. The problem all too often begins on the street with the patrolman who comes in contact with an individual who has an altered mental state. Without the proper training the officer cannot effectively ascertain whether or not the subject is intoxicated, on an illegal substance, non-prescribed medication, or has a mental illness. Therefore, the normal response is to take the subject into custody and transport them to a detention facility. Unfortunately, the intake officer is typically less trained than the patrolman, so nothing

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