A high rate of jailed women suffer from multiple mental health disorders, including serious mental illness, posttraumatic stress and substance abuse disorders, according to a study published in this month's issue of the journal Feminist Criminology.
Researchers for the study — which was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice — conducted diagnostic interviews with 491 incarcerated women in rural and urban jails in Colorado, Idaho, Washington, D.C., Maryland and South Carolina between June 2011 and June 2012.
43 percent of those interviewed showed signs of serious mental illness; 82 percent struggled with substance abuse; 53 percent suffered from lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study notes that most jails have limited mental health treatment facilities.