This work examines jail mental health services in Kentucky, a rural state with relatively small jails. While mental health services in prisons and large jails have been studied extensively, little is known about smaller jails. Each of the 85 Kentucky jail administrators was mailed a survey regarding mental health services at their jail. The response rate was 70.6%. Jail administrators self-reported their information; no attempt was made to verify their data and therefore it may not reflect actual practices. Jail administrators relied on a variety of techniques to determine if an inmate was mentally ill. Jail staff members were most likely to administer medication, while community mental health center (CMHC) staff provided assessments, counseling/therapy, and psychiatric visits. Jail administrators were most likely to pay for services. Jail administrators preferred that the CMHC staff treat inmates, but that the inmate/family and the state mental health authority pay for the services.
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