Description
Write a 1,050- to 1100-word paper explaining the needs of special offenders. Answer the following questions:
- How do special needs, mentally ill, and substance-abusing prisoners affect the jail and prison systems at state and federal levels?
- What would happen if these prisoners were not cared for properly?
- Select a prison special offender population and research a program aimed to assist or care for that population. What are the characteristics of the program? How has the program affected the special offender population in that prison?
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Prisoners with Special Needs - Outline
Thesis statement: The needs of special offenders
1. How special needs, mentally ill, and substance-abusing prisoners affect the jail
and prison systems at state and federal levels
2. What would happen if these prisoners were not cared for properly
3. A program aimed to assist or care for substance abuse offenders. Characteristics
of the program, and how it has affected substance abuse offender population
Running head: PRISONERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Prisoners with Special Needs
Name
Institution
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PRISONERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
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Prisoners with Special Needs
Special offenders are those criminals whose behaviors or circumstances necessitate
for treatment or management beyond the usual method of supervision (Seiter, 2011). It could
be resulting from some form of mental disorder, age (young or elderly), physical problem, a
history of sexual assaults, a tendency of violence, infectious disease, or severe substance
abuse. These circumstances entail the staff creating unique approaches to handling,
managing, and treating the offenders. In the current Federal and state prisons, many prisoners
have substance abuse issues, mental illness, and special needs. These convicts are regarded as
special offenders whose circumstances or behavioral issues need special treatment and
attention. They are cautiously watched under close supervision. Unique methods are
necessary when treating prisoners with mental illness, disabilities, and substance abusers.
Special needs, mentally ill, and substance abusing criminals affect jail, Federal, and state
prisons in several ways. It is very costly to run special facilities that accommodate prisoners
that require special treatment. Jails and prisons that are put up to house prisoners with mental
illness, special needs, and substance abusers cost millions of dollars as it costs more money to
take care of these prisoners than their needs. The cost of psychiatric help and medication for
the substance abusing and mentally ill offenders cost the state a lot of money.
In a Special Report published in 2006, the Bureau of Justice Statistics approximated
that there were 705,600 mentally ill adults in State prisons, 78,800 in Federal prisons and
479,900 in local jails. Research also suggested that people with mental health problems were
overrepresented in parole and probation inhabitants at approximated rates oscillating between
two and four times the general population (Prins & Draper, 2009). The increasing number of
criminals with mental health problems has stressed the correctional system. Offenders with
mental health problems have access to mental health therapies, psychotropic medications, and
psychiatric health. Also, special offenders need to be secluded from the rest of the prison
PRISONERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
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population to inhibit them from causing harm to other inmates. They must also be
continuously be supervised so that they do not cause harm to themselves. Substance abuse
prisoners also need specialized medical care for drug-related illnesses, a selection of drug
treatment programs, and ...
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