NCFCA Policy Debate: Mental Health Care (NEG)

Resolved: The United States Federal Government should significantly reform its policies regarding convicted prisoners under federal jurisdiction

Case Summary: The AFF plan increases access to mental health care in federal prisons, under the theory that federal prisoners are under-served and suffering with lack of care.

Note #1:  In this context (and in the literature in general) “jail” refers to small local city and county facilities where prisoners are kept before trial or for short sentences after conviction.  “Prison” refers to bigger state or federal facilities where convicted prisoners serve longer sentences.

Note #2: “DSM” refers to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, considered the “bible” of the psychiatric profession, it’s an official definition of the diagnosis and symptoms of mental illness.