Prison Madness: The Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars and What We Must Do about It

by Terry A. Kupers and أميرة علي عبد الصادق

Book Overview

A Disturbing and Shocking Expose-A Passionate Cry for Reform

Prison Madness exposes the brutality and failure of today's correctional system-for all prisoners-but especially the incredible conditions Andured by those suffering from serious mental disorders.

"A passionately argued and brilliantly written wake-up call to America about the myriad ways our penal systems brutalize our entire culture. Dr. Kupers not only diagnoses...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787943614
• ISBN13: 9780787943615
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Magnificent, Timely, Sadly True, and Achingly Prophetic

Dr. Kupers writes honestly about where those who were "saved" by deinstitutionalization ended up and they way they are being treated. It is a scathing indictment of the utter failure of community mental health centers and the professionals practicing within them. It clearly shows how persons are forgotten, ignored or dismissed by community supports and the eventual freefall they experience into corrections. He artfully describes the negativistic labeling, i.e., Borderline or Antisocial Personality Disorders, and the damage done by such perjorative terms. Dr. Kupers shows clearly what is occurring in jails and prisons across the country and lets the reader know this is not the end of the story of the emptying of the hospitals, but the next chapter in the abuse/neglect of the most maligned and oppressed population in America. Thank you Dr. Kupers, for your courage, integrity, and honesty.

good read, good place to start real debate

I was initially excited, because the premise of this book is that the mentally ill are being incarcerated and criminalized because of the failure of comunity mental health, and the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill. Most people do not realize that the prisons are rapidly becomming the largest providers of mental health services, as is the case in TX. Kupers goes off track and has his own agenda. This book becomes a polemic for diagnosing all inmates as PTSD, just because they are in prison. His claim that as an outsider he is more than objective. I believe the book reports on many problems in a lot of prisons. I kept waiting for him to address, in a meaningful way, managed care and privatization of services. The issue of the mentally ill in prison is a growing problem. I would hope that those who read the book, will try to open dialog about the problems and possible solutions. I work for the managed care organization that provides mental heath services to TX prisons, and many of Kuper's points hit home. I have already recommended the book to my colleges.

Terrific, a seminal work on mental health and prisoners.

Dr. Kupers articulates in clear detail the serious problems confronting persons within the prison system. With an unfailing eye, he depicts the ravages extolled on prisoners in the name of justice and... expediency. The problems, most often, manifest in the form of mental health issues that custodial staff are incapable of addressing. Dr. Kupers suggest effective solutions for dealing with the mental health needs of the incarcerated and the needs of society at large. A must read for anyone in Corrections or Forensics.