Topic: Behavioral Health

The conversation addresses the psychological toll of prison, particularly in solitary confinement, where inmates may lash out simply to exert a sense of control over their environment. Dr. Hattery notes that 20% to 30% of the current prison population is incarcerated solely because they cannot afford cash bail or administrative fines. They argue that providing a pathway for inmates to earn fair wages to pay off these debts would be more productive than the current system.

The shift from "mental health" to "behavioral health" is identified as a strategy for increased public surveillance and "pre-crime" intervention. Smallstorm points to a violence prevention unit in Palm Beach County, Florida, as an example of this new paradigm. She argues that the Adam Lanza story was created to justify flooding schools with behavioral officers and encouraging neighbors to report on one another.