Services for persons with mental illness in jail: Implications for family involvement

After committing relatively minor offenses many persons with serious mental illness are arrested and then detained because they lack adequate housing or other support resources. Deinstitutionalization of these individuals has led to an increase in such arrests and imprisonment, with negative consequences. In jail, the special needs of persons with mental Illness are likely to go unserved with the consequent risk of symptom relapse and physical harm. The authors identify critical areas in which family members and professionals can advocate for change in treatment and community linkage of persons with mental illness in jail.