Committed to Jail
How Mississippi Jails People for Mental Illness
In Mississippi, many people awaiting court-ordered treatment for mental illness or substance abuse are jailed, even though they haven’t been charged with a crime.
These articles contain detailed descriptions of mental illness and suicide. If you or someone you know needs help:
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Text the Crisis Text Line from anywhere in the U.S. to reach a crisis counselor: 741741
This series was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Mississippi Today. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published.
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‘So medieval’: Man with mental illness jailed for 20 days without charges
As lawmakers debate changing Mississippi’s commitment laws to reduce jail detentions, David’s path through the state’s mental health system shows how it can funnel a sick person into jail, and how long it can take for them to get out once locked up.
