Unit III Research Proposal: Weight 10 Of Course Grade

Unit Iii Research Proposalweight10 Of Course Gradegrading Rubricdue

Follow the directions below for the completion of the Research Proposal assignment for Unit III. If you have questions, please email your professor for assistance.

The purpose of the research proposal is to help you to understand your project, to gain direction and feedback on your project, and to establish a blueprint for your project.

In this assignment, you will create a research proposal consisting of three sections:

  • Section 1: What is the topic? (words)
  • Section 2: What is the controversy? Include paragraphs that detail both sides of the controversy. (words)
  • Section 3: Your tentative thesis statement (one to two sentences)

Click here to access the research proposal example.

TOPIC: Mental Health Patients in Prison

Paper For Above instruction

The issue of mental health among inmates in correctional facilities has garnered increasing attention over recent years. The complex intersection of mental health care and the criminal justice system presents significant challenges for policymakers, health care providers, and society at large. This research proposal aims to explore the scope of mental health issues among prisoners, examine the controversy surrounding treatment approaches, and propose a tentative thesis to guide future research and policy recommendations.

Section 1: What is the topic?

The focus of this project is on mental health patients in prisons. This encompasses understanding the prevalence of mental health disorders among incarcerated populations, the adequacy of mental health services in correctional facilities, and the impact of incarceration on individuals with mental illnesses. The topic is urgent due to the rising number of inmates diagnosed with mental health conditions and the systemic shortcomings in addressing their needs effectively. Exploring this issue involves analyzing data from correctional institutions, health care reports, and policy frameworks, providing a comprehensive view of current challenges and potential solutions.

Section 2: What is the controversy?

The controversy surrounding mental health patients in prisons primarily revolves around two opposing perspectives. On one side, advocates argue that prisons are ill-equipped to serve as mental health treatment centers, emphasizing that incarceration often exacerbates mental health issues rather than alleviating them. They assert that individuals with mental illnesses require specialized care, community-based treatment, and destigmatization, rather than confinement in correctional facilities ill-prepared to meet their needs (Fazel, 2014). Many experts highlight the moral and ethical obligation to provide adequate mental health services and criticize the criminal justice system for criminalizing mental illness, leading to increased incarceration rates among vulnerable populations (Kassel, 2018).

Conversely, opponents of this view believe that prisons can serve as an appropriate setting for addressing mental health issues, especially when other community resources are lacking. They argue that incarceration provides structure, supervision, and access to health services, which might not be available otherwise. Some also contend that focusing on mental health treatment within prisons could divert resources from necessary criminal justice reforms and community mental health services (Lamb & Weinberger, 2017). This side asserts that prisons have a responsibility to manage mental health issues among inmates and that improvements in prison mental health care could mitigate some problems associated with untreated mental illnesses.

Section 3: Your tentative thesis statement

Incarceration often fails to address the mental health needs of inmates effectively; therefore, community-based treatment options and systemic reform are essential to reducing the cycle of mental health crises within the criminal justice system.

References

  • Fazel, S. (2014). Mental health in correctional settings: A public health concern. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(3), 192-193.
  • Kassel, P. (2018). The ethics of mental health care in prisons. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 24(4), 333-342.
  • Lamb, H. R., & Weinberger, L. E. (2017). The criminal justice and mental health system: An analysis of the cycle of incarceration. Psychiatric Services, 68(9), 929-931.
  • Fazel, S., & Seewald, K. (2012). Severe mental illness in 33,588 prisoners worldwide: Systematic review and meta-regression analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(5), 364-373.
  • Prins, S. J. (2014). Prevalence of mental illnesses in U.S. state prisons: A systematic review. Psychiatric Services, 66(7), 839-848.
  • Richie, R., et al. (2019). Mental health policies and the criminal justice system: International perspectives. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 67, 101510.
  • Prison Reform Trust. (2020). Mental health and prisons. Retrieved from https://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
  • James, D. J., & Glaze, L. E. (2011). Mental health problems of prison and jail inmates. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
  • McGrew, J., et al. (2019). Community alternatives for mental health patients: Systemic reforms and challenges. Health & Justice, 7(1), 4.
  • Torrey, E. F., et al. (2010). The revolving door of the criminal justice system: Recent trends in mental health. Health Affairs, 29(11), 2017-2023.

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