Backlog of inmates with mental health needs grows in Missoula jail (2024)

Missoula County's jail has an increasing number of people waiting for a trip to the state mental health hospital, which local officials warn has become so backed up that the county often has to treat jailed residents.

Both the county attorney and sheriff said the lack of beds at the criminal unitofthe Warm Springscampus has backed up so severely that some prisoners waiting for a mental health evaluation often sit for months in Missoula.

Meanwhile, the county must cover the costs of jailed people. The county has spent $170,000 since October on inmateswho are supposed to be in state custodyat Warm Springs.

On May 21, 18 people were waiting at the Missoula jail for a space at the state hospital, according to Detention Center Commander Sheryl Ziegler. A total of 224 people were in the jail at the same time.

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"It's a significant percentage of our population, and just keep in mind every last one of those individuals has been deemed with significant mental health concerns," Ziegler said. "It's a monster resource draw."

The county plans to send a letter to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services to find a solution to the backup. Missoula County Commissioners said during their Tuesday meeting that they also plan to get the larger Montana Association of Counties involved in the discussion.

At the same meeting, County Attorney Matt Jennings said the broken process has set the state back decades, ultimately hurting the inmates, who often need a high level of medical care.

"Warehousing these people in our jails because their mental illness is cycling us back 60 years ago, and the ideas of deinstitutionalization because we weren't treating people with mental illnesses as human beings," Jennings said. "So in some of the efforts we made to improve it, we ended up creating a full circle back to the system injustice for people that need help."

Warm Springs has been on a six-month wait for men and a year-long wait for women, the Missoulian reported late last year.There are two types of inmates waiting for a bed— one for pretrial evaluations and the other for convicted people who need to stay for the long term.

With the lack of space, jail operators told the commissioners they often end up treating the patients involved. For some pretrial inmates, Jennings said some have avoided Warm Springs altogether.

"They aren't going to the hospital for that at all,"Jennings said. "They are waiting nine months, 11 months in jail."

Ziegler said the county jail has tried to fix the situation by giving care to the inmates while in Missoula, like medication and a therapist.Ziegler said the county can provide a limited amount of help, but many times the inmates can simply decline any care.

"Oftentimes they are also spending this lengthy time in isolation, which is also concerning," Ziegler said.

There have usually been a few people waiting for a bed at Warm Springs, butZiegler said since the state only allows certain treatments at the state hospital, the backlog has grown.

Ziegler said there is a larger statewide concern for the smaller jails, which often don't have the same resources as Missoula. She said the Libby jail has two patients waiting for Warm Springs, but zero medical or mental health care.

The Montana Legislature took action on the lack of beds during the 2023 session, passing a resolution that set aside $300 million toward an overhaul of the state's behavior health system.

Of that $300 million, $7.5 million has been allocated for local behavioral health evaluations over the next two years. The money would help send inmates to an examination faster, and overall speed up the process.That money is to be doled out by grants from the state health department, and is unlikely to go to a single applicant or county.

Jennings said none of that money had reached Missoula County yet, blaming a slow, bureaucratic process at the state level.

"Getting them caught up to speed and allocating the money in a way that's going to make a difference is the challenge," Jennings said. "Whether that money is being wasted on, bureaucracy, more experts, more research, or whether we are actually getting that money into the hands of people who will make a difference."

Jon Ebelt, communications director for the department of health, said anew pilot program with the goal of reducing and eventually catching up to the backlogwas launched in March.

"Since that time, DPHHS has continued to conduct outreach with critical stakeholders, including, but not limited to local providers, and county attorneys to promote the new program and increase participation," Ebelt said in a statement. "The Department is working closely and transparently with these stakeholders and continues to consider their feedback to improve program operations and drive participation.”

Lee Montana State News Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson contributed to this story.

Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.

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Backlog of inmates with mental health needs grows in Missoula jail (2024)

FAQs

What is the most likely diagnosis of a jail inmate with mental health problems? ›

More than two-fifths of State prisoners (43%) and more than half of jail inmates (54%) reported symptoms that met the criteria for mania. About 23% of State prisoners and 30% of jail inmates reported symptoms of major depression.

What are the effects of incarceration on the mentally ill? ›

Quite often, mental health issues and substance abuse issues occur alongside one another. Many other incarcerated individuals may experience depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, or PTSD. 5 For some, these issues may be pre-existing conditions. For others, the issues may have started after their incarcerations.

What are the four most common mental health conditions that inmates suffer from? ›

The prevalence of mental disorders within the prison population is high; depression, anxiety, substance use and psychotic disorders predominate.

What are mentally ill inmates more likely to do? ›

Compared to other offenders, what are mentally ill inmates more likely to do? The mentally ill offenders are more likely to recidivate than other offenders. Why do some states use supermax prisons for inmates who have not committed a violent act in prison?

Where do criminals with mental illness go? ›

Inmates are generally screened at admission, and depending on the severity of the mental illness, they are placed in either general confinement or specialized facilities. Inmates can self-report mental illness if they feel it is necessary.

Does mental illness affect sentencing? ›

A defendant with mental health issues might be unable to deal with sentencing options that the court might typically determine. Some sentencing options include incarceration, probation, or community-based treatment programs.

Can a mentally ill person go to jail? ›

The question of future risk can tip the scales in the direction of not releasing the patient from responsibility because of mental illness, even in situations when it might be appropriate. There are certainly cases in which a mentally ill individual who commits a crime is sent to prison.

What is the most common mental illness in criminals? ›

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is one such diagnosis that is widely and arbitrarily applied to many in the prison populations.

What is the most common health problem of inmates in jail? ›

The disorders that can be seen developing in the inmates are generally stress response disorders, mood disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder) or anxiety disorders (PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder) yet even those and most other mental illnesses occur at about the same rates as the ...

Do you think inmates are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia? ›

How Common Is Mental Illness in Prison? About 1 in 7 prison inmates and 1 in 4 people in jails have a serious mental illness. Up to 4 percent have schizophrenia. The rate of severe mental illness is three to four times higher in the criminal justice system than outside of it.

What is the prevalence of serious mental illness among jail inmates? ›

Overall, approximately 20% of inmates in jails and 15% of inmates in state prisons are now estimated to have a serious mental illness.

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