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California's prison system: America's mental health system fails again
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Federal law mandates a certain level of both physical and mental health treatment in all prisons. However, the federal government does not provide adequate funding to meet their own standards. This leaves the burden on the individual states to pay for prisoners’ care. California is a perfect example, as the high budget deficit has resulted in a failure to provide the minimum standard of care.
California’s “Three Strikes” law mandates that three-time felons will be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. In the last week alone, federal judges have ruled that the number of felon prisoners in California be reduced from 156,000 to 101,000 within a three year period. While this may save money in the future, much could have been done in the past to avoid the prisoner surplus in the first place. The majority of felons do not return to prison after committing a new crime, but rather due to a parole violation, such as failing a drug test. Had there been proper sentencing reform, rehabilitation programs, substance abuse programs, and mental health reforms, the state could have saved nearly $900 million a year. Instead, inmates regularly die in custody as a result of suicide and inadequate medical care.
Our federal government is bailing out the banks and organizations that cannot even account for where money has gone. Even with government assistance, these financial institutions cry bankrupt and ask for even more money. How is it acceptable for our nation to rescue these mismanaged banks before providing proper funding for prison, education, and health care systems? If we refuse to offer adequate parolee rehabilitation services, we cannot be surprised when crime rate rise exponentially. When prisoners are released from jail without being offered employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health services, and guidance, they are left with little choice but to turn back to lives of crime. Their desperation results in more muggings, car thefts, home invasion and store robberies, rape, and acts of misplaced anger and violence on unsuspecting citizens.
Once again, the policy makers, politicians, and even we the people, are failing to take mental health in America seriously. Our short-sightedness will only cause further turmoil. Let’s stand by our recent decision. Let’s make a change.
Make it an Excuse Free Life and always remember, “It’s not the size of the problem but the size of the feeling.”
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