Many advocates come to criminal justice issues in response to personal experiences or local events, such as the arrest of a family member or an increase in suicides at the local jail. What they may not appreciate is that these problems are part of a broad, nationwide trend that has been escalating for several decades: the U.S. Department of Justice reports that about 16 percent of the population in prison or jail has a mental illness, compared to 5 percent of the U.S. population.(ii) As they become active in this area, advocates' first step should be to learn about the extent of this problem and its implications, sources, and solutions.

• Extent of the Problem
• Implications of the Problem
• Sources of the Problem
• Solutions to the Problem

ii: R. C. Kessler et al., "A Methodology for Estimating the 12-Month Prevalence of Serious Mental Illness," In Mental Health United States 1999, edited by R.W. Manderscheid and M.J. Henderson (Rockville, MD, Center for Mental Health Services); Paula M. Ditton, Mental Health Treatment of Inmates and Probationers, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics (Washington, D.C.: July 1999).