Room running out for mentally ill offenders

POCAHONTAS - Because of wait times for state mental health hospital beds and a lack of local care centers, mentally ill offenders usually end up spending time in county jails.

Randolph County Judge David Jansen said offenders are taking up much-needed space in the county jail, which is currently being expanded due to overcrowding issues.

"They don't need to be, so the state is trying to put together a program to get them help," Jansen said.

Jansen said several county leaders were in Little Rock for a meeting Oct. 4, when lawmakers discussed modeling a program after similar systems used in Tennessee and other states. He said there may be action taken in the next legislative session.

A staff member at Mid-South Health Systems'Randolph County office said the subject needs to be addressed further.

"Mental health is taboo," said Sarah Anderson, a member of customer support staff. "There needs to be more community awareness. If you have someone in jail hearing voices, what's it do for them to just sit in jail?"

Mid-South provides crisis screenings and medicine maintenance as needed for clients in jail. Anderson added that clients who have been in and out of jail, have been to a group home and need a space in the state hospital often struggle to find a bed due to long wait times.

Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Yates said while his county doesn't see many mentally ill offenders, there's a desperate need for help.

"You know, they haven't committed a crime, but you can't let them go," Yates said. "There's not lots of help. We're hurting for help."

The Arkansas Public Policy Panel released a report last year arguing the state would save money if it created enough crisis centers for mentally ill offenders instead of leaving them in the criminal justice system.

The savings are estimated at about $140 million annually, along with the benefit of reduced relapsing on the part of patients as they receive the treatment they need. The report also states law enforcement would be able to focus on "true threats to public safety."

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Arkansas finished last in the United States on the organization's mental health "score card" in 2009. The organization judges states based on a variety of factors, from innovative treatment options, the existence or non-existence of a workforce development plan, funding, state-supported housing, transportation and Medicaid coverage.