The Americans With Disabilities Act and Criminal Justice: Mental Disabilities and Corrections

The National Institute of Justice launched an initiative to examine the implications of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) for criminal justice agencies at the State and local levels. This Research in Action report examines how correctional facilities must deliver programs, services, and activities to inmates, job applicants, and employees with mental disabilities. Under the ADA, corrections facilities must do more than just identify mentally disabled inmates and employees. Now they must also provide mental health screening, evaluation, and treatment. The ADA raises significant issues for correctional facilities because of the prevalence of mental disabilities among inmates. Jails across the United States handle 640,000 to 800,000 detainees with such disabilities each year.