SENIOR PROJECT OVERVIEW

DIRECTIONS: Explain each area in 35 to 50 words.

Name: Dana Almberg

Title of Project: A Bed Instead

Title of Research Paper: Mental Illness in the Justice System

Synopsis of Research Paper:

I examined the effects deinstitutionalization on the justice system and the mentally ill. Prisons

and jails are overcrowded and poorly equipped to deal with the mentally ill. Hospitals and jails

have systems for involuntary treatment. The unavailability of treatment led to practices such as

patient boarding and imprisonment. I explained how modern psychiatric and criminal systems

operate together through case law, policy, and state and federal laws.

Project Description:

My project is an interactive panel on the incarceration of the mentally ill. My panel includes two

VA general assembly members, a captain of the sheriffs department, a police officer, and a

representative of Treatment Advocacy Center. My panel began with speeches from panelists and

then opens up to questions.

Relationship between Project and Paper:

My project and panel are directly related because my panel is focusing on the incarceration of the

mentally ill, which is the primary issue in my paper. My panel talked about most of the most prominent

problems discussed in my senior paper.

My background experience in the area:

I dont have any specific background in the area but I thought this would be an interesting topic to study

because of the many problems in both our current mental health system and our current criminal justice

system.

Special things Id like judges to consider and look for:

The audience at my project was primarily strangers, which shows that my audience was formed through

advertising to groups with specific interest in this topic, including college psychology students and adults

involved with NAMI. Because my audience was invested in the topic, the panel discussion was very

active and effective.