Scott Frakes is Deputy Director of Prisons for the Washington Department of Corrections. He will be part of the panel presenting on Mental Health in the Corrections and Detention Environment at the 2014 AAJ Conference in St. Louis. Below are his responses to a few questions related to their presentation:
As mental health funding is cut and/or eliminated, and prisons & courts become the defacto locations for addressing mental health in our communities- how have you seen Corrections Departments and Courts adapt and address the situation?
We have added residential treatment beds, and additional out-patient resources. We have provided (some) training to all staff, and continue to expand this effort. We operate a “prison system” rather than 12 separate prisons, and it is important that the mental health resources function as a system – our mental health system continues to grow and mature. This can only happen if the MH system works as, and is seen as, a partner with prisons operations.
What do you see as the key strategies for addressing and integrating care for the mentally ill in our current justice facilities?
Have an adequate number of crisis care and residential treatment beds – no one should have to wait for needed services. Co-locate treatment beds with general population beds, allowing seamless transition (both directions). Train staff, train staff, train staff, and when time allows – do more training (this includes dialogues, assessment processes, and actual classroom training).
What methods could we modify to have the greatest impact for this special population?
Recognizing that mental illness is a part of the lives of many millions of people, and the label “mentally ill” tells us very little. We need to better understand the real needs of each offender, and continue to build strategies (treatment plans, behavior plans) that help offenders and staff work together to manage the illness.
How does the Architecture address the situation (versus program)?
Unit size, sight lines, relationship to services, relationship (proximity) to general population, lower custody residential treatment beds (less security), paint schemes, finishes, flooring – provide an environment that is conducive to treatment and safe/secure for everyone.
Thank you Scott- I look forward to the session Thursday morning!