State jails hosting individuals battling severe mental health issues
In the absence of sufficient community mental health services, America's jails have inadvertently become the primary providers of care for individuals with mental illness. This shift, highlighted by the closure of more than a dozen psychiatric hospitals in Michigan 25 years ago, has profound implications for individuals, the justice system, and society as a whole.
For those with mental illness, prison environments, often overcrowded, understaffed, and lacking privacy, exacerbate existing conditions. This can lead to psychosis, paranoia, obsessive thinking, and an increased risk of suicide. Incarceration also brings trauma and isolation, compounding previous experiences with exposure to violence, social isolation, and restrictive practices like solitary confinement, which can lead to further psychological deterioration.
Moreover, correctional facilities frequently lack adequate mental health staffing and resources, resulting in institutional neglect and systemic underfunding of essential services. Without proper treatment, individuals are more likely to reoffend or be rearrested, perpetuating a cycle of incarceration rather than recovery.
The justice system also bears the brunt of this shift. Law enforcement and jails become primary responders to mental health crises, diverting time, personnel, and funding away from crime prevention and community safety. Jails are not equipped to provide the therapeutic care needed for mental health recovery, leading to poor outcomes for inmates and no meaningful reduction in public health risks. There are also ethical concerns about treating jails as substitutes for healthcare facilities, as this approach fails to address underlying health needs and may constitute a violation of human rights.
Communities and public health are also affected. Mass incarceration contributes to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress not just among those incarcerated, but also in their families and communities. These negative outcomes disproportionately affect Black and other marginalized communities, reflecting and reinforcing existing health and social inequities.
The inadequate care provided in jails spills over into communities as formerly incarcerated individuals return with untreated or worsened conditions, exacerbating public health burdens. Chronic underfunding and overcrowding in correctional facilities limit the quality and availability of mental health services, further contributing to this cycle.
Mental health interventions in jails are often reactive (e.g., crisis response), not proactive (e.g., ongoing therapy, rehabilitation), further diminishing their effectiveness. There is ongoing debate about the need for increased crisis intervention training for police and the expansion of community-based mental health services to prevent unnecessary incarceration of people with mental illness.
In conclusion, the use of jails as de facto mental health providers leads to harmful cycles of worsening illness, increased risk of self-harm and suicide, strained justice resources, and broad public health consequences—especially for marginalized groups. Meaningful reform requires investment in community mental health infrastructure, improved crisis response, and a shift away from punitive approaches to care and support.
This story is copyrighted by Gray Media Group, Inc. in 2025. Reporter Ann Emmerich is examining the gap in mental health care in Michigan, focusing on the impact of the closure of psychiatric hospitals on the mental health care system in Michigan. Approximately 60% of incarcerated individuals with a history of mental illness do not receive treatment while in jail, a fact that the National Alliance on Mental Health identifies as a primary reason for people experiencing mental health crises ending up in jail. The closure of Michigan's psychiatric hospitals has been linked to a gap in mental health care and has reportedly led to devastating consequences in at least one case.
In light of the closure of psychiatric hospitals in Michigan and the subsequent lack of community mental health services, individuals with mental illness may find themselves receiving care in prison environments, which can exacerbate their conditions, leading to an increased risk of psychosis, paranoia, and even suicide. Furthermore, the lack of adequate mental health staffing and resources in correctional facilities may contribute to a cycle of neglect, underfunding, and reoffending, adversely affecting not just the individuals, but also the broader health-and-wellness and mental-health of the society.
