True justice: Mental health intervention versus incarceration
Perspective: Connected care | Capability: Behavioral Health | By: Carelon Behavioral Health
Nearly 25% of incarcerated people suffer from a serious mental illness. These individuals are more likely to be arrested and rearrested than to receive the help they need.
Correctional institutions are not designed to be behavioral health facilities. People with serious mental illnesses need access to specialized care — and state and local governments can help. By coordinating across agencies to locate those with mental illnesses, reduce and divert those individuals to appropriate facilities, and maximize funding for behavioral healthcare, we can ensure people with serious mental illness receive the treatment they need.
Read our full article to learn about the Sequential Intercept Model and other tools to keep those with serious mental illnesses out of correctional care and in behavioral health facilities.
