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Background
One in seven prisoners in western countries is estimated to have a serious mental illness (SMI) (Fazel and Danesh, 2002). In 2014, 45 percent of state prison inmates in the USA had been treated for SMI, which the Department of Corrections defines as an illness, disease, or condition that substantially impairs the person’s thoughts, perception of reality, emotional process or judgment; or which grossly impairs behavior. Researchers estimate a range of 28 to 52 percent of those with SMI in the USA have been arrested at least once (Fontanarosa et al., 2013). In a Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, it was determined that 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners, and 63 percent of those in local jails experienced a mental health problem (James and Glaze, 2004). Upon release from jail or prison, all prisoners struggle to meet basic needs that are essential to successful community reentry, such as housing, healthcare, and employment. Among those with SMI, such challenges are often compounded due to their mental health status.
In the community, case managers play a critical role in the care of people with SMI by coordinating mental health services with healthcare, housing, transportation, employment, social relationships, and community participation. These are essential components for successful community reentry and integral in managing mental health symptoms. Case managers are often the first, and sometimes the only, providers to notice when a patient with SMI starts to deteriorate, experiencing worse symptoms and a loss in function. As a result, it is often case managers that intervene to prevent hospitalization and/or events that often lead to further criminal justice involvement. Effective and accessible case management is of importance prior to and during reentry to the community from incarceration for any individual but it is even more critical for individuals with SMI (Kim et al., 2015; Angell et al., 2014). The risk of suicide, re-incarceration, and/or hospitalization is higher for those with SMI re-entering the community from incarceration (Kim et al., 2015). In addition, these prisoners are often released with a very limited supply of medication that can run out before a connection is established to mental health services (Binswanger et al., 2011).
Case management models designed specifically for the...