Mentally Ill Inmates
CJ2640
11/24/13
In my opinion this is how I would rank the disorders discussed in our book:
1) Thought disorder
2) Personality disorder
3) Anxiety disorder
Thought disorders are identified as schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and related mental illnesses. Inmates with thought disorders will not respond when spoken to, may talk to someone or something that does not exist, or may talk to themselves. Schizophrenia involves hallucinations, delusions, or “flat effect” (no emotions). Inmates with this mental disorder may not care for themselves—they may not bathe or keep good hygiene. Thought disorders are treated with medications. The cost for having an additional health care worker on staff could cost the institution a tremendous amount of extra money that could be used elsewhere. Also, with this disorder you would need to have more than one guard on duty at a time when this prisoner was out of his/her cell. This may also cause another much needed rehabilitation program to be put on hold or to even not be allowed.
There are several different types of personality disorders that are generally caused by environmental influences over a lifetime and inherited traits, personality disorder behaviors become part of who the inmate actually is. How the inmate perceives the staff and other inmates is clouded by the disorder. There are several different personality disorders that you will have to consider if you suspect a prisoner might have this disorder, the borderline personality disorder is characterized by unstable personal relationships, poor self-identity, ongoing suicidal gestures, self-mutilation, unstable moods, empty feelings, inappropriate feelings of anger, and stress to the point of paranoia. Personality disorders do not respond well to medication, counseling can help,
but the fact is that inmates having personality disorders will change only if...