People with Disabilities in Corrections - Research Paper Example

?Disabilities in Corrections Instruction: Task: Disabilities in Corrections Disability is a painful situation for offenders, who are victims in most of the Americans prisons. This has been heightened by draconian legislations that prevent the disabled prisoners from filing litigation suits. There is also reduced awareness among the disabled prisoners in various correctional facilities, which makes life difficult for them. Therefore, it is useful to commend laws such as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Prison Litigation Act (PLRA) and Convention against Torture that are helping disabled offenders to survive in prisons (Delgado & Delgado, 2009). Alternatively, there is a need for the government and local authorities to support the acceptance of persons with disabilities both in the community and the jail system. This should begin by establishing separate facilities in various institutions that make the life of disabled people easy and comfortable. For example, the areas include schools, hospitals and mostly prisons where, as research indicates, there is less awareness. On the other hand, the campaign to ban the placement of mentally ill prisoners in supermax cells and solitary units is a great step to reduce discrimination for such prisoners (Ford, Burt, & Dooher, 2010). Furthermore, the establishment of programs that cater for their needs is paramount if it receives support from the prison authorities. There are different ways in which people with disabilities manage in jails. For example, there is the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) that oversees the dispensation of criminal justice both at the local and state levels. Therefore, this act calls upon humane methods of enabling disabled prisoners to live in the various correctional facilities spread around the country. The act requires that prisoners with disabilities receive constant mental screening so that their conditions do not become worse. Similarly, there should be an evaluation in terms of disabled prisoners’ conditions in order to prevent instances of violence and other unbecoming behaviors. On the other hand, such prisoners should be given urgent treatment whenever the need presents itself for both health and security purposes in the correctional facilities (Greifinger, 2007). There is also the aspect of conducting a separate assessment for IQ and other forms of disabilities to avoid mixing such persons with other prisoners. Alternatively, there are also the provision of a half-way house within the jail system where prisoners with disabilities receive both community and coordination services. However, this approach has been deemed expensive and is only applied in a few prisons with disabled persons. In other words, because of the lack of adequate community programs to care for prisoners in the jails, there have been increased communal problems. Another way disabled people manage in prisons is due to authorities understanding their needs. This suggests that correction officials have set other correction options in order for the developmentally disabled persons to receive better services (Kupers, 2003). In the same scope, there is The Connections program that is implemented at the Oregon State Penitentiary; it offers network and case management for prisoners with disabilities. Therefore, disabled prisoners with successful participation in this program have a chance for early release or reduced duties within the prison. The program runs for about six to eight months and ensures the constant assessment of the prisoners within the jail yard. It also protects them from various elements of harm such as prison violence and other forms of molestation. In other words, the program helps the disabled prisoners to cope by acquiring workforce and education skills. Therefore, before entering the program, the disabled prisoners are expected to undergo mandatory screening, especially if it is mental disability. The screening instruments they undergo include WAIS-R and BASIS exam. However, if a disabled offender scores the reading level of the fourth grade, the interview is personally conducted by a case manager. This suggests that the offenders with IQ below 70 or with IQ of 70-79 and with a remarkable adaptive behavior are placed into the program (Puisis, 2006). After the evaluation of their IQ, the disabled prisoners acquire special training assisting them in the development of social skills. There is also the understanding of services at their disposal after their release from prison. This means the program is meant to welcome the disabled prisoners into the common population of able prisoners so that they can participate in work programs and regular education. Alternatively, there is the gaining of new skills that sharpen their negotiation skills in the typical prison (Sutherland et al., 2005). The Connections Program also attempts to create strong and lasting relationships for disabled prisoners and to report cases of discrimination and stigma. On that note, there are growing concerns that if such persons are kept in separate places it may suppress their growth. Another way that they cope in most correctional facilities is through the use of facilities meant for people with disabilities. This is in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements that have provisions for special cells and staircases among other facilities. However, in various jail systems, disabled prisoners use other hard ways in. For example, there is the violation of the rights to humanitarian treatment and rehabilitation. This is apparent in locking of disabled prisoners in supermaximum security prisons whenever they break rules. On the other hand, prison officials are known to expose such disabled prisoners into isolation and denial of most fundamental rights similar to able prisoners. In the same context, this act of segregation is known to only worsen life for disabled prisoners, especially those who are mentally ill (Thomas, 2008). There is also continued harassment of such special prisoners, which makes their conditions worse in jails. For instance, Tamms Correctional Center, a supermax prison, is known for its segregation units and solitary confinement that worsen the life of the disabled prisoners. In these small units, prisoners are locked up to 23-24 hours a day and they cannot seek for help because they have solid steel doors. There is also extensive surveillance and security controls that ensure the prisoners live in the hardest conditions. Therefore, this has drastically cut off normal social interaction and irregular environmental stimulus that disturbs the minds of most mentally disabled prisoners. There is the denial of vocational, educational and other purposeful ventures that force disabled prisoners to become violent and uncooperative (Kupers, 2003). On the other hand, these prisoners are also chained and handcuffed every time they leave their cells proving it hard for mental screening programs. Extended solitary confinement is psychologically lethal for disabled prisoners, who lapse into depression, anger and anxiety. Some factors within the cells such as the lack of adequate natural light, books and radio lead to paranoia, cognitive disturbances, obsessive thoughts and perceptual distortions in the disabled prisoners. However, while able prisoners may adjust to the changes of the conditions, their disabled colleagues do not. The inadequacy of meaningful social contact, stress and unstructured days increase the symptoms of a mentally ill prisoner. In other grave instances, there is a reoccurrence of the illness that has led to increased suicides among such prisoners. According to studies conducted in more than fifty prisons around America, it was discovered that seventy eight percent of mentally ill prisoners committed suicide in one year. According to Belleville News-Democrat, there was a disabled prisoner from Tamms Correctional Facility who had a persistent history of schizophrenia. In order to manage his life in prison, he always mutilated and smeared himself with feces. The same prisoner, who was jailed for six years, also suffered other strange characteristics that are common among disabled prisoners. For example, he ate his own flesh, cut himself and had several attempts of suicide in order to adapt the hard life of solitary confinement with a mental disability. There were also documented cases when he had inconsistent behaviors of violence and non-cooperation toward the authorities that eventually worsened his mental condition (Ford, Burt, & Dooher, 2010). On that account, there are various reasons why disabled prisoners resort to such behaviors. For example, there is no permission for mental health professionals to offer adequate mental health treatment services to the jailed offenders. However, in cases when there is a mental health service, it is only reduced to psychotropic medication. This suggests that the monitoring of the prisoners’ conditions only falls in the confines of mental health rounds where the prisoners have no individual say of most of their problems. Alternatively, there are always periodic meetings with a clinician in private, but this is not allowed to most disabled prisoners because of their temperament. Another fundamental reason making coping mechanism for disabled offenders hard is the lack of a group and personal therapy (Kupers, 2003). Additionally, the inadequacy of structured education, recreation and life-skill ventures have also contributed to violent behaviors in most prisoners with disability. Furthermore, the absence of therapeutic interventions because of a few resources has led to clashing with set prison rules and regulations. In other occasions, there are no custodial staffs to take the offenders to clinicians for private meetings. Instead, the disabled offenders are confined to small cells that prevent them from having contact with other offenders. Apart from aforementioned mechanisms of coping by disabled prisoners, there are other techniques. Some disabled offenders engage in outdoor activities such as playing baseball while in wheel chairs in order to overcome stress and depression (Sutherland et al., 2005). Alternatively, the disabled offenders who have high IQ are tasked with running libraries, prison stores and workshops, where they are in charge of their colleagues. On the other hand, such mentally disabled prisoners ensure there is harmony between fellow colleagues through regular discussions that enable them to overcome their stigma. Similarly, disabled offenders are protected by The Prison Litigation Act (PLRA), enacted in1996, which gives them the rights to sound mental health. Additionally, the prisoners with various disabilities have a right to use the services of a lawyer to protect their rights. Addressing of these complaints is always funded by the state though federal attorneys who represent the disabled offenders. At that, The Committee Against Torture also helps mentally ill prisoners and protects them from any physical torture (United Nations, 2009). This organization complies with the Convention Against Torture that was instituted in 2006 and permits the disabled prisoners to defend against any form of torture. Furthermore, the reduced sentencing rates that comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) ensure that disabled offenders are placed in less demanding programs of the prison, so that their stay can be a little more comfortable. Accordingly, through the Bureau of Prisons (BoP), there have been increased mental services for disabled offenders in terms of consistent review of the services. In other words, the placement of such prisoners in supermax facilities declined to encourage integration into programs such as manual duties and social interactions. This ensures increased cooperation among the disabled offenders. Therefore, the support of disabled offenders should begin with provision of funds to prison authorities. This is to support various programs that help disabled offenders cope with other able-bodied prisoners (Thomas, 2008). It is also urgent to build facilities within the prison system, especially staircases used by suffering prisoners. Alternatively, the state should prosecute prison authorities who are guilty of torturing physically and mentally disabled prisoners. Furthermore, the Convention Against Torture requirements within the jail system should ensure that disabled offenders live with minimal difficulties despite the existing challenges. More programs should be implemented in the prison systems to prevent disabled prisoners from engaging in demanding duties. It is also crucial to increase mental health services for disabled people in the prison systems by making them regular. This ensures those who have problems within the system are attended to on time without breaking the rules and regulations of the prisons (United Nations, 2009). Another strategy is to offer guidance and counseling services to disabled offenders to reduce cases of stress, anxiety and cognitive disturbances among others. This would reduce suicide numbers that have affected most American prisons for a long time. References Delgado, M., & Delgado, D. (2009). Health and health care in the nation's prisons: Issues, challenges, and policies. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefiled Publishers. Ford, K., Burt, R., & Dooher, J. (2010). Preventing and reducing aggression and violence in health and social care: A holistic approach. New York, NY: M & Update. Greifinger, R. (2007). Public health behind bars: From prisons to communities. New York, NY: Springer. Kupers, T. (2003). Prison madness: The mental health crisis behind bars and what we must do about it. Belmont, MA: Jossey-Bass. Puisis, M. (2006). Clinical practice in correctional medicine. Mason, OH: Mosby Elsevier. Sutherland, E. et al. (2005). Principles of criminology. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefiled Publishers Thomas, R. (2008). Effective teaching in correctional settings: Prisons, jails, juvenile centers, and alternative schools. New Jersey, NJ: Charles C Thomas Publisher. United Nations. (2009). Handbook on prisoners with special needs. New York, NY: United Nations Publications. Read More