Video? There Were a Lot

¶ … video? There were a lot of things that were impressive about this video. One of the most impressive scenes is when the counselor is sitting with the inmates having a group therapy session. While the arrangement was certainly understandable, it was interesting that these people were deemed dangerous enough to have to be placed in these cage-like enclosures just to receive the therapy they need to work through their issue.

At the time, none of the men were going through any type of fit or rage, but it just goes to show that the corrections officers never know when they are going to have an outburst. Another thing that really impressed me was the number of inmates who were dealing with mental issues. The video numbered them at 500,000 and compared that number to the 50,000 mentally ill men who were being treated in a psychiatric facility.

It was interesting to consider the fact that the treatment of mentally ill people in the United States has deteriorated to such a degree that the prison system is forced to handle the overflow. In the past, the mentally ill could possibly get out of a prison sentence by "claiming insanity," but these days the insane asylum is often the regular prison with the addition of mental health therapists, nurses and therapists along with specialized medication designed to treat mental health issues. 2.

What ethical dilemma(s) are present in the video? There are numerous mental health issues present in this video. The one that is most easily identified is the ethical issue of having people to rehabilitate who are actually committing violent crimes and having to have them compete for resources with the mentally insane, many of whom are committing crimes in a petty fashion. The narrator in the video even describes the common ways that the mentally insane end up in jail over a small issue.

For example, it is a cold day outside and a man goes in to a local convenience store to get out of the cold. While in there, he causes a disturbance, steals food or gets accused of trespassing. When the police are called, these men end up going to jail. It is a difficult position for law enforcement for numerous reasons. First of all, they are forced to use their time and effort on the insane when the crimes they are committing are petty.

Unfortunately, without law enforcement petty crimes by the criminally insane can get way out of hand, such as the man who burned down his girlfriend's house during a fit of paranoia. It is also difficult because the men who are incarcerated obviously require intensive treatment. Unfortunately, intensive, dedicated treatment is not always available in the prison system, although they do the best they can. 3.

Are financial and/or policy related issues were identified or should have been identified in the video? They didn't really go into great depth on the financial and policy issues on this video, but they should have. The fact that mental health facilities are closing down all around the United States and that there are ten times the number of mental health patients on the streets and in prison as there are currently being treated in a mental health facility is a financial and policy issue alone.

Legislation needs to be implemented that helps these men find the care and treatment they need to either be functional members of society or kept from being harmful to functional members of society. With the right funding and policy in place, there might be better treatment options for the incarcerated men who are mentally insane. If not, there might be other facilities open or separate words, both instances which were not in play during this video. It is.