The mentally ill prison population presents unique challenges to prison systems. The United States has the highest adult incarceration rate among developed countries with nearly 2.2 million currently in jails and prisons. According to Human Rights Watch, the staggering rate of mentally ill prisoners is the result of underfunded, disorganized, and fragmented mental health services (2006). Prison systems must respond to the needs of the mentally ill population. As Reginald Wilkinson, director of Ohio Rehabilitation and Corrections, noted, correctional agencies will eventually have to deal with this population. Prisoners have a constitutional right to mental health care while alive, and many systems have been sued for what plaintiffs see as a lack of provision of mental health services” (Gaseau 2004). Gradually over the past few years, as the number of mentally ill offenders has increased dramatically, some states such as Ohio and Maryland have recognized that this is a large population that needs to be better managed and have begun to reform treatment and care programs. for the mentally ill. sick; however, not all states have been as proactive in addressing the problem. Management of the mentally ill prison population is another major issue facing all state and federal prisons as this population continues to grow.HistoryThe history of the mentally ill prison population can be traced back to 1827, in the heart of the Enlightenment. . Before 1827 that prisoner population was treated the same as common criminals, sometimes in deplorable conditions. The first prominent figure who began to lead reform in the field of the mentally ill prison population was Louis Dwight. “Louis Dwight to Congregates...... half of the document ...... to develop strategies and programs to effectively address the problem. Some states, including Ohio and Massachusetts, have made proactive progress in treating mentally ill inmates, but many still have a long way to go. With states financially strapped for resources, this will continue to be a challenge. Inmates have a constitutional right to mental health care while incarcerated. By effectively treating mentally ill criminals, society as a whole benefits and the community is safer. Prison is also safer for both inmates and prison officials. All state and federal correctional systems must be proactive in addressing this issue to avoid lawsuits, protect inmates' constitutional rights, ensure a safer prison population and a safer society by developing and implementing effective treatment plans for the mentally ill prisons. population.