Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration: Strategies to Facilitate Timely Restoration of Benefits upon Release of Inmates with Mental Illnesses

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When inmates with mental illness are released from prison or jail, they may face deterioration and reincarceration if they do not receive mental health treatment and basic support. Prerelease benefit applications and agreements between correctional facilities and government agencies may help promptly restore to such inmates the federal benefits that were terminated or suspended during incarceration. Advocates may use statutory and constitutional claims to challenge correctional facilities to secure services for mentally ill inmates.

By Jennifer Mathis and Laurel Stine From July-August 2007 Clearinghouse Review