<P> In the United States, mental health services in prison aren't available in providing treatments for criminals; most prisoners have an untreated mental disorder and psychiatric care or treatment is expensive for the mentally ill . 64 percent of jail inmates, 54 percent of state prisoners, and 45 percent of federal prisoners in the US report having mental health concerns . </P> <P> Despite the fact that studies reveal more than 50% of those incarcerated are likely to suffer from at least one mental illness or condition, the verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity" is exceedingly rare according to a 2014 Scientific American article . In the United States, a million people who are incarcerated suffer from mental illness without any assistance or treatment for their condition and the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend, known as the rate of recidivism, is unusually high for those with the most serious disorders . Analysis of data in 2000 from several forensic hospitals in California, New York and Oregon found that with treatment the rate of recidivism was "much lower" than untreated mentally ill offenders . Treatment works to lower crime among those who are mentally ill, but public support is often shaded by stigmas . Without public support, funding is restricted and the cycle of recidivism that feeds the U.S. prison system is perpetuated . The issue of health care for prisoners with mental illness is not a moral issue, it is a psychological issue, and if treatment were readily available, crime would decrease as would the rate of recidivism among those who are mentally ill who are essentially trapped in a prison system that offers little to no relief . </P> <P> Some prisons provide educational programs for inmates that can include basic literacy, secondary education, or even college education . Prisoners seek education for a variety of reasons, including the development of skills for after release, personal enrichment and curiosity, finding something to fill their time, or trying to please prison staff (which can often secure early release for good behavior). However, the educational needs of prisoners often come into conflict with the security concerns of prison staff and with a public that wants to be "tough on crime" (and thus supports denying prisoners access to education). Whatever their reasons for participating in educational programs, prison populations tend to have very low literacy rates and lack of basic mathematical skills, and many have not completed secondary education . This lack of basic education severely limits their employment opportunities outside of prison, leading to high rates of recidivism, and research has shown that prison education can play a significant role in helping prisoners reorient their lives and become successful after reentry . </P> <P> Many prisons also provide a library where prisoners can check out books, or do legal research for their cases . Often these libraries are very small, consisting of a few shelves of books . In some countries, such as the United States, drastic budget cuts have resulted in many prison libraries being shut down . Meanwhile, many nations that have historically lacked prison libraries are starting to develop them . Prison libraries can dramatically improve the quality of life for prisoners, who have large amounts of empty time on their hands that can be occupied with reading . This time spent reading has a variety of benefits including improved literacy, ability to understand rules and regulations (leading to improved behavior), ability to read books that encourage self - reflection and analysis of one's emotional state, consciousness of important real - world events, and education that can lead to successful re-entry into society after release . </P>

Who might be confined in a modern jail