From Asylums to Prisons: The Impact of Deinstitutionalization on Mentally Ill Individuals in New York

Author: Jillian Leifer

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Robert Holahan

Easel: 63

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: How has deinstitutionalization impacted mentally ill inmates in New York? How has the shift from institutional mental health care to alternatives like therapy and medicinal drugs affected incarceration rates among individuals with severe mental illness? Has deinstitutionalization led to transinstitutionalization, moving individuals from mental facilities to prisons? Though mental healthcare has undergone significant changes, access to adequate treatment remains limited, especially for low-income individuals. To explore these questions, this study examines the history of mental health policy, deinstitutionalization, and incarceration trends in New York. It also analyzes census data and scholarly literature to assess the relationship between mental health care accessibility and rising incarceration rates. Through comparing past and present treatment options, it is expected that reduced institutional care, coupled with insufficient community support, has contributed to an increase in mentally ill individuals within the criminal justice system. This research will highlight the consequences of these policy shifts.