Introduction

Abstract

Abstract This chapter begins with a description of the jail setting and a review of its unique challenges when compared with other correctional settings such as prisons (e.g., rapid turnover, unknown release dates, high rates of serious mental illness and suicide). The chapter follows with a review of the historical context of the modern American jail system and the factors that led to the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in jails across the country. Finally, the chapter explains the purpose of the handbook (i.e., to advance knowledge on the area of correctional mental health applied to the jail setting and to serve as a call to action for researchers and practitioners to continue developing a scientific base for jail correctional mental health) and provides a short description of all chapters in the handbook.