For years, the Los Angeles County jail has been known as the United States’ largest mental health institution. An astonishing 5,901 people – nearly half of its population – struggle with mental health issues. In some parts of the jail, incarcerated individuals in quilted robes are chained to metal tables so they can’t harm themselves or others. The U.S. Department of Justice has been monitoring the jail system to assess its mental health care, making progress with a peer-to-peer program called Forensic Inpatient (FIP) Stepdown.
Why We Wrote This
Four years ago, the Monitor covered how two incarcerated men were helping their peers improve mental health at the Los Angeles County jail. Now their successful efforts are expanding. The mental health assistants program, initiated by two people facing criminal charges, is “amazing,” says Alix McClearen, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons executive. “Top-down mandates often founder for lack of buy-in,” she explains, highlighting the importance of peer-driven initiatives in the correctional system.
Sparkling clean in Tower 1
It’s “double scrub” Monday at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles. The towers house over 1,200 men with severe mental illness, from schizophrenia to substance use disorder. Incarcerated individuals released into the FIP Stepdown program receive psychiatric help, learn basic hygiene, work on communication skills, and prepare for court. The program, led by Sgt. Julian Flores, aims to help patients stand trial and reintegrate into society upon release. Through the dedication of mental health assistant Craigen Armstrong, patients in the program have seen significant improvements in their well-being and behavior.
