http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/nyregion/rise-in-mental-illness-and-violence-at-vast-jail-on-rikers-island.html?_r=0

This article was discussed briefly in class. It is devastating to read that such mayhem is taking place in our prison system. The article highlighted the fact that the mentally ill and other inmates are being victimized by the correction officers and the other inmates. Whereas the various gangs are clashing. The current rehabilitation instituted clearly are ineffective. From a human service perspective, there need to be much restructuring. The corrections officers need to be educated of the various components of mental illness in regards to presenting characteristics and displayed behaviors. The officers clearly don’t understand the dynamics of the mentally ill. I don’t believe that this population should be housed in the general population. The segregation of the gangs should be disbursed. These gang members need a healthy dose of cognitive behavioral therapy.