By C1 Staff
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the largest mental health facilities in Central Indiana isn’t a hospital, it’s Marion County Jail.
WISH TV reports that of 2,300 inmates currently held at the jail, 40 percent have a mental illness. The jail distributes 700 prescriptions daily.
The most common drugs are used to treat bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. Prescriptions run upwards of $650,000 per year in Marion County. The budget shows the total cost for mentally ill care is nearly $8 million a year, which includes doctors, extra security and prescription drugs.
Some inmates are in jail willingly in order to receive free medical care in the jail; one inmate cost $2,300 alone.
In 2012, Indiana cut over $24 million from its mental health budget and closed state mental hospitals like Central State.
The National Alliance on Mental Health documented it as the second biggest cut in the country. Indiana sheriffs say it’s a return to the 1800s of putting mentally ill people behind bars.
“We think the majority of the people that are here classified as mentally ill shouldn’t be here,” said Col. Louis Dezelan. “They get care here, but not treatment.”
Once released, many go off their medications, commit more crimes and the aptly named “frequent flyers” are right back in jail.
One potential solution is a program that ensures released inmates stay on their medication.
“If they agree to continue with treatment, they can get their charges dismissed after they’ve been through a year with our court,” said Judge David Certo.
“We believe a lot of the crimes committed by that mentally ill population may not even be committed if they were on their proper medication.”