Texas Health Quality Authority

Sixty-one inmateswithmental illness who had been treated in amedium-security resi-dential mental health program were interviewed and assessed in other prison units after they left the program, 43 (70%) in general population units and 18 in special liv-ing units. Participants showed a decrease in psychiatric symptoms and expressed appreciation for the program. A minority of participants had adjustment problems that persisted in every prison setting. The coping abilities of inmates with mental ill-ness and program implications are discussed in relation to differences in individuals and in settings. In the United States, growing numbers of persons with mental illness are living in prisons and jails (Butterfield, 1998). Literature reviews concede that from 10 % to 15 % of state prison inmates suffer from severe mental illnes