Bureau of Justice Study Finds Over Half of All Inmates Are Mentally ILL

STUDY FINDS MORE THAN HALF OF ALL PRISON AND JAIL INMATES HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

WASHINGTON -- More than half of all prison and jail inmates, including 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners and 64 percent of local jail inmates, were found to have a mental health problem, according to a new study published today by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
Among the inmates who reported symptoms of a mental disorder: 54 percent of local jail inmates had symptoms of mania, 30 percent major depression and 24 percent psychotic disorder, such as delusions or hallucinations.
43 percent of state prisoners had symptoms of mania, 23 percent major depression and 15 percent psychotic disorder. 35 percent of federal prisoners had symptoms of mania, 16 percent major depression and 10 percent psychotic disorder. Female inmates had higher rates of mental health problems than male inmates -- in state prisons, 73 percent of females and 55 percent of males; in federal prisons, 61 percent of females and 44 percent of males; and in local jails, 75 percent of females and 63 percent of males.
Full press release at the following:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/mhppjipr.htm
Full DOJ report at the following:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/mhppji.pdf