March is National Criminal Justice Month, and advocates say people with mental illness are over-represented in jails and prisons.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 43% of people in state prisons and 44% of people in local jails have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
Nick Buckingham is co-founder of Michigan Liberation, which is leading a campaign to decriminalize mental illness and substance abuse. He says instead of incarceration, individuals should receive proper mental-health diagnosis and support, as jail often fails to address the underlying issues and change behavior effectively.
“In Michigan, a lot of our institutions to house folks with mental illness have been closed down and prisons and jails have become a holding spot for a lot of these folks,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham says the campaign addresses stigmas related to substance use and encourages community members to engage with advocacy groups discussing the issues openly. He also reminds folks that calling 988 for support is another resource.
