treatment of America's jail system in terms of mental health

We the undersigned are concerned about the treatment of America's jail system in terms of mental health. A range of known and treatable conditions and serious mental health concerns are present in a startlingly high percentage of prison inmates, and many offenders develop psychological issues while incarcerated. In some states, nearly one in four prisoners is known to have a mental health disorder or history of related concerns. The difficulties faced by these prisoners as they go through the nation's jail system are very serious, though they are often helped by state-appointed therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals. These professionals and the programs in which they work comprise a significant expense to taxpayers, adding to the overall strain of a crowded and largely incompetent penal system that has warranted investigation and improvement for decades.
Currently, offenders in prison are treated to mental health care services which largely focus on medicating clients as a way to subdue violent or uncomfortable personalities and episodes. While it is clear from modern research that some medications are extraordinarily effective in the treatment of certain psychological concerns and can ultimately be life-saving, a number of mental health concerns can be more meaningfully addressed through positive, proactive types of psychotherapy. The quality and availability of therapy in prisons is directly related to the overall health and well-being of inmates, and unfortunately, many find themselves suffering unnecessarily because of poor or inadequate treatment in prisons.
Even more detrimental to the nation's incarcerated, as well as the society that supports their imprisonment and receives them upon their release, is the cycle fostered by an overall lack of public education and information about mental health services, and a focus on medicating mental health concerns that is unforgivably imbalanced. When inmates are given pharmaceuticals in prison but do not receive adequate, quality psychological care, they are prone to simply cease taking the medication upon release, and easily cycle back into the penal system. This vicious cycle accounts for exorbitant sums of money spent by tax payers and adds to the suffering of countless lives. In addition to the need for change in prison treatment, initiatives for prevention warrant greater attention. 
People experiencing personal difficulties due to mental health concerns are much more likely to engage in positive and effective behaviors, becoming valuable contributors to society at large, when exposed to the potential for therapy to create meaningful and lasting inner change. Those who are not exposed to such treatments, however, or who are affected by social taboos and other blocks to seeking therapy, are more likely to act out under the influence of their mental and emotional issues. Prevention is a substantially better option for addressing crimes committed by those with mental health concerns than is the attempt at %u201Ccuring%u201D clients with medications after law-breaking incidents have occurred. 
We are not impressed by the impersonal, highly clinical, and medication-focused environment of mental health services in prisons, and we unite with this petition to encourage lawmakers and related professionals to rally for greater mental health care for inmates. Combined with a greater scope of public education programs about the benefits of psychotherapy, we are firm in the conviction that an improvement in the nature of such services can and will result in greater well-being for inmates, a reduction of violent offenders, and a lighter financial burden for society.