Should we treat criminals like mental patients?

Question

It seems like the justice system is more concerned with punishing criminals than rehabilitating them. But from what I've been reading, it may not be all the criminal's fault in a lot of cases. For example, a lot of violent offenders meet the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, which is often the result of childhood trauma. Some "super males" are born with an extra chromosome that increases their testosterone, which leads to heightened agression and lessened inhibition. And a lot of people in jail are drug users who just got caught with their drugs before they could use them. And a lot of them are genetically predisposed for addiction. And list goes on.

In light of these things, should jails be more like mental hospitals and prisoners more like patients? I can't help but wonder if that would be a more effective way of dealing with criminals and turning them into productive citizens.

Answer 1

Budget cutbacks in mental health services have made them all but non-existent. In my state, the largest mental health facility shut it's doors several years ago and patients were released with one month supply of medication and a "good luck." Many of them have become homeless and others have resorted to crime either to survive or because they wanted to get locked up as they need some type of structure. The point is by the time a person reaches the point of needing to be hospitalized or incarcerated 24/7 society just does not care about what happens to them.

As an ex-offender advocate, it's been difficult to even start a conversation about how to help this population because everyone assumes the government is doing it or "those people" don't deserve anything. As you point out, as long as these needs are not being addressed, we are looking at a growing, revolving door of recidivism. Helping these people will eventually help out communities because crime will be lower, money would not be funneled into simply housing criminals, but preparing them to cope with life on the outside and touching the next generation by giving children of prisoners an opportunity to reconnect as a family after their parent's incarceration. Helping them IS helping society (us) in the long run.

Answer 2

I think that approach was tried before we got into this era's penal system, but of course without our current knowledge about the causes of some behaviors.

I've done some work in jails, and I'd say everyone I spoke with could be diagnosed out of the DSMx, but in the end, there are always those folks with matching disorders that don't commit crimes, and jail separates the two groups.

I've also seen rehab programs in jails that just don't transfer to the outside world, so if there was to be some kind of a program, it would have to be chosen after careful scientific research.

Take the DARE program...used throughout most of the US. It's not proven to prevent crime or drug use...but millions have been spent on it, and millions of children have been a part of it. I wouldn't want to repeat that mistake.

Answer 3

I agree. I think they need to be punished less severly and ways must be used to turn thier life over again. Punishing them doesn't help, it only makes things worse. People doesn't want to be criminals, they just become that due to different situations. They have a right to be treated well.

Answer 4

Even so-called "mentally unhealthy" people should be expected to exercise some self-control.

Answer 5

I GREW UP TRAUMATIZED AND ABUSED AND YET HAVE MANAGED NOT TO KILL OR SEVERLY HURT ANYONE. YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LIFE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL YOUR ACTIONS. DON'T TREAT A VIOLENT PERSON AS IF HE WERE INSANE BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER. EVERYONE HAS THE CHOICE TO MAKE THEIR LIFE A DECENT ONE.

Answer 6

i think it should be equal. they need to be punished, but like you said, they may have an illness, so that should also be taken care of.