People with mental health conditions are significantly overrepresented in every aspect of the criminal justice system. Unfortunately, they may be unnecessarily arrested, treated unfairly in court, and punished in jails and prisons that are unprepared for them and can do real and lasting harm.
The best way to improve the criminal justice system’s treatment of people with mental health conditions is to keep them out of the system in the first place. For those who are imprisoned, we need to ensure they are treated fairly, receive the treatment they need, and receive support upon re-entry to the community to help prevent recidivism.
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