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Summary Of PBS Frontline

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This episode of PBS Frontline focuses on the growing problem of the enormous mentally ill criminal population in prisons and jails. The viewer is also provided with insight on the challenges and difficulties many of the released mentally ill face that often lead them back into incarceration. As the numbers of mentally ill offenders increase, much is debated regarding terms of release and the deinstitutionalization of the 1970’s. One of the main focuses of this episode was how many mentally ill criminals often find themselves re-incarcerated. Those that make parole or temporary supervision are usually better off being that they have someone to make sure their lives are organized. Unfortunately, many under mandatory release or unsupervised …show more content…

Much adversity arose against institutionalization due to the fact that many patients with chronic mental illness were often institutionalized for life.The 1970’s started a trend of cutting funding to many of these institutions (while some still exist). This was the start of the mass influx of mentally ill criminals into jails and prisons. One example of the effects of deinstitutionalization PBS presents is Keith Williams. With no psychiatric institutions, Williams was forced to into imprisonment. Soon after his release, he was re-incarcerated for assaulting a police officer. Unfortunately many released mentally ill share similar stories. This cycle of re-incarceration among mentally ill criminals has led to their increasing prison and jail …show more content…

After his release, Stokes was placed into Bridge View Manor. Bridge View is a residential housing program specialized in guiding and supervising the mentally ill. Because of this supervision Stokes was able to stay out of jail for seven months. Offenders such as Jerry Tharp, Lynn Moore, Keith Williams and Bennie Anthony were not given similar opportunities. Without supervision Lynn Moore became unemployed and homeless. He ultimately fell into alcoholism and was cut from the services that aided him after failing a breathalyzer test. He was arrested shortly after. Bennie Antony, upon release, refused to take his medication and became homeless. This initiated a cycle of Bennie moving in and out of incarceration. Keith Williams was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Without supervision released offenders are at high risk of taking the same path that originally got them arrested

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