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Reinvestment Grant#RFA06H16GS1 <br /> Working Draft <br /> Figure 2. Age-adjusted percentage of adults with serious psychological distress, by income <br /> relative to federal poverty level and by race and ethnicity: United States, 2009-2013 <br /> 10 <br /> 8.7 <br /> 8 <br /> c <br /> 6 <br /> 5.1 <br /> 3.8 3.7 <br /> .24 4 '3.3 <br /> 2.7 <br /> 2 1.2 <br /> 0 <br /> Less than 100%to less 200%to less 400%or more Hispanic Non-Hispanic Non-Hispanic <br /> 100% than 200% than 400% white black <br /> Federal poverty leveF Race and ethnicity <br /> ,Significantly lower than for other races and ethnicities. <br /> 2Significant decreasing linear trend by poverty level. <br /> SOURCE:CDC/NCHS, National Health Interview Survey,2009-2013. <br /> It is a continually presenting fact that a significant segment of the adult population <br /> interfacing with the criminal justice system, many of whom live in poverty, have an <br /> undiagnosed and untreated mental health, substance abuse or co-occurring disorder. <br /> Many of these individuals and their families are unaware of how to obtain services for <br /> their conditions, and their only options to receive treatment are by accessing care through <br /> some of the costlier and less efficient points of entry into the healthcare delivery system <br /> including emergency rooms, acute crisis services, and ultimately the adult criminal justice <br /> system. These individuals have often had unsuccessful educational experiences and are <br /> unemployed, both of which are factors often leading to homelessness or housing <br /> instability, nutritional insecurity and limited access to transportation; and so, when this <br /> population is released back into the community they are at significant risk of reentering <br /> the facilities that have previously proven ineffective in assisting with their overall <br /> challenges. This revolving door pattern accomplishes very little and often contributes to <br /> increased recidivism for this population while draining the community's limited financial <br /> resources that could instead represent funding for more appropriate and effective mental <br /> health services. <br /> Life circumstances become particularly difficult for individuals cycling in and out of the <br /> jails as these institutions were never designed, equipped or funded to deal with the <br /> behaviors associated with serious mental illness. It is documented that mentally ill <br /> offenders typically spend twice as long in jail as non-mentally ill offenders, adding to what <br /> is already a costly and inefficient way to address the needs of this population. In addition <br /> Page 5 of 33 <br />