Date of Award
1-1-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.C.J. in Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Kimberly Kaiser
Second Advisor
Abigail Novak
Third Advisor
Rachel Greenspan
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Over 64 percent of jail inmates report mental health concerns in the United States. Limited research, however, has explored the guidelines provided by jail facilities for screening and assessing mental illness. To address this gap in the literature, this study used a qualitative design to examine the intake policy guidelines for mental health screening in Mississippi jails. Furthermore, it explored the following questions to discover themes relating to correctional mental health: how many facilities have policies relating to screening for mental health symptoms; how are these guidelines defined by correctional officials; is there variation across location and facility; and are facilities using practices consistent with national guidelines for assessment and treatment? These questions helped explain how mental illness is detected among inmates and discussed the factors relating to the continuity of care. Gaps between policy and practice then revealed areas for improvement and a need for advanced detection and education.
Recommended Citation
Molina, Sierra, "A Review of Mental Health Intake Assessments in Mississippi Jails" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2699.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2699