The Mentally Ill O FF Ender Treatment And Crime Reduction...

The Mentally Ill Oï ¬â‚¬ender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004: Problems and Prospects by Christine M. Litschgea and Michael G. Vaughn, is a research article whose focus is three-fold. First, the researchers reviewed the literature available on the components that have influenced the considerable increases of incarcerated persons with severe mental illness (SMI). Secondly, they analyzed the Mentally Ill Oï ¬â‚¬ender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA), and evaluated if, since its inception, has reduced the problems associated with incarcerated persons with SMI. Thirdly, they offered recommendations about policy improvements; how to decrease the number of SMI persons imprisoned. The researchers state that SMI offenders are†¦show more content†¦Lastly, they propose recommendations, these are based on the outcome of their reviews and analyses, which include: effecting and requiring enforcement of policies already in existence, decreasing the number of individuals with untreated SMI by changing outpatient commitment speciï ¬ cations, which would require close monitoring of patients’ compliance with treatment, thus reducing the overall number of SMI individuals becoming involved in the criminal justice system at all. They also recognized the need for evidence-based programs, and additional research to investigate the actual effectiveness of MHC’s and public mental health services. Analysis and Evaluation The issue chosen by the researchers, is a relevant issue facing the criminal justice system. The predominance of mental health problems among incarcerated persons in both prisons and jails present major problems for each component of the criminal justice system; law enforcement, courts, and corrections. The entire criminal justice system is negatively impacted and overburdened by untreated mental illness. According to Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than half of all prison and jail inmates have a mental health problem (James Glaze, 2006). The author’s present important and substantial findings from prior studies and literature reviews. The information and data offered was comprehensive and well-supported, it was clear that the authors had conducted a thorough