Mental illness does not mean that someone will resort to criminal
behaviour, but unfortunately it is over represented in prisons and
jails. Some criminal activity can in part due to difficult life
circumstances for people with mental illness and a lack of
treatment, and these individuals can be vulnerable to returning
back inside after release if they don’t have the care that they need.
At the same, jails and prisons aren’t the best places for someone
suffering from mental illness: the staff aren’t trained to provide this
care and incarceration can exacerbate some conditions, which
means it’s also expensive to take care of someone inside.
So how can we ensure people get the support they need so they
don’t end up in jail or prison, and to help keep them away upon
release? And which methods also have the best outcomes for us all
when it comes to budgets and public safety? Our host Cristina
Quinn speaks to experts to find out more.
This is the final episode of the first season of Fighting Crime. We
will be back with Season 2 soon. If you’d like to share ideas on
topics for us to cover, or anything else, contact us at
contact@fightingcrimepodcast.com
Guests:
David Phillips, Economist, University of Notre Dame
Vikki Wachino, Executive Director, HARP (Health and Reentry
Project)
Amy Watson, President, CIT International
John Wetzel, Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections 2011 - 2021
Fighting Crime is an Indio Media Production for Arnold Ventures
© 2026 Arnold Ventures. All rights reserved.
