Paved with Good Intentions: A policy analysis on the disproportionate incarceration of people with mental illness in Washington State

Abstract

Washington State is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in incarceration among individuals with mental illness. This policy analysis aims to characterize the structural, judicial, legislative and policy decisions have led to this issue in Washington State, determine the barriers and facilitators of the problem, assess the efficacy of various interventions and develop recommendations for policy makers hoping to ameliorate the issue moving forward. Using historical and literature review, a mini-systematic review of mental health courts effect on jail recidivism and key informant interviews of stakeholders working with this population, the analysis outlines the scope and context of incarceration of people with mental illness and explores the feasibility potential interventions aimed at preventing arrest or mitigating poor outcomes after arrest.