EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT of MENTAL ILLNESS WITHOUT WIDENING RECIDIVISM In CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONAL SETTING

"It is important to understand that the job of creating a safe society is everybody's business, starting with the provision of the law and the interpretation of it."

This book is an in-depth review of the American contemporary correctional setting and how culture and society can better the methods used in treatment centers and correctional facilities to help prevent recidivism, which Oladipo defines as re-offenses of past incarcerated individuals. Oladipo begins his analysis by reviewing the various historical methods of handling criminal justice in America that led to the current approach. Additionally, he discusses cultural trends that correlate with and have potentially caused the rise in drug use and mental illness in the U.S.

After establishing the country's current crime setting, the author carefully reviews various events at IDOC treatment and supervisory training centers. The last third of the book outlines detailed steps to improve the results of modern-day criminal treatment. The author recommends always remembering the personhood of the patient. The primary point is that those in authority, such as correctional officers or counselors, should always approach their job with an understanding of mutual respect for themselves and their patients.

Before delving into his review, Oladipo provides the reader with a list of acronyms and important definitions. This means that any reader, even those who are not familiar with the mental illness or correctional setting, can read, understand, and benefit from the knowledge of this book. He lays out twelve important training points for anyone working in a correctional setting to put into practice. The emphasis on the humanity of patients is a key takeaway that could drastically improve the results of the criminal justice system's ability to bring incarcerated individuals back into society as full, functional members. Anyone working in mental health or criminal justice would likely benefit from the author's wisdom and experience in the field.

- The US Review of Books

Throughout the last couple of centuries or so, the importance of mental health has come into question time and time again. The average person struggles with a variety of mental health problems, ranging from something as “seemingly” mild as anxiety or depression, to something truly terrifying like schizophrenia or Dissociative Identity Disorder. Whether these stem from external sources of stress and hardship, or come from a difficult inner struggle which is either genetic or due to illness, these mental and emotional struggles are something that has become more and more commonplace in our society, and the need to address and normalize the treatment of these ailments is needed now more than ever.

In author Stephen B. Oladipo PhD’s Effective Management of Mental Illness Without Widening Recidivism in Contemporary Correctional Setting: (A Review of IDOC Treatment Centers & Supervisory Training Memos), the author focuses on the treatment and wellbeing of mental health services for correctional facilities and their inmates, in particular for IDOC (Illinois Department of Corrections). Within this book, the author shares the treatments, history, advancements, and studies done to showcase how offenders within the IDOC system are treated for mental health services, including but not limited to the idea of recidivism and the impact of imprisonment as a whole.

The author does a remarkable job of providing a clear, concise, and educational reading experience. The history of IDOC and how the state had no real system in place to help prisoners and patients within the system, address treatment for their mental health struggles which is both fascinating and yet heartbreaking to read all at once. The balance of philosophical and ethical questions regarding this treatment, as well as the mental and physical impacts to the prisoners themselves, make this a compelling read. The heart of the book laid in the author’s passionate voice and writing style showcases the importance and need for these services, and the educational means by which the reader is given the knowledge to study the history and current practices of this system is inspiring to read about.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction reads, especially those which act as a reference guide of sorts, and hone in on specific topics such as mental health, prison reform, and specifically the Illinois Department of Corrections activities and history. The importance of mental health in general has always held great importance to a number of readers, and the author’s ability to tap into and showcase the human connection that even prisoners and inmates still have while undergoing the reformation process is great to see come to life in this book.

Insightful, factual, and engaging, author Stephen B Oladipo PhD’s Effective Management of Mental Illness Without Widening Recidivism in Contemporary Correctional Setting: (A Review of IDOC Treatment Centers & Supervisory Training Memos) is a must-read reference book on IDOC and the mental health services for the state. The educational value of this text is without question, and the way the author is able to teach readers the history and background of this subject by showing the readers through his words rather than just telling them outright is a great learning tool which will resonate with passionate readers well after the initial read.

- Pacific Book Review

"...he (Oladipo) discusses cultural trends that correlate with and have potentially caused the rise in drug use and mental illness in the U.S....the book is an in-depth review...and, how culture and society can better the methods used in correctional facilities to help prevent recidivism - "

- The US Review of Books

"The heart of the book laid in the author's passionate voice and writing style... the author shares ...the idea of recidivism and the impact of imprisonment as a whole. The balance of philosophical and ethical questions regarding...treatment...makes (this book) a compelling read."

- Pacific Book Review