Is corrections in the United States the new institution for the mentally ill? Yes, according to the "Revised Standards for Psychology Services in Jails, Prisons, Correctional Facilities, and Agencies" which appeared in the July 2010 special issue of the journal, Criminal Justice and Behavior. America's jails and prisons house more mentally ill persons than psychiatric hospitals. Los Angeles County jail, Cook County Jail, and New York's Riker's Island, are named as the country's three largest institutions for the mentally ill.

Today, more than 2.3 million individuals are incarcerated and upwards of half of those are mentally ill according to some reports. In addition, there are 5 million persons under supervision for probation or parole. Although the percentage of mentally ill within that population is unknown, available data suggests that the number is significant.

The standards, which represent the International Association for Forensic and Correctional Psychology's (IACFP) third revision of psychology's service standards in correctional settings, are meant as a guide and source of reference for the profession and corrections administration. They provide ethical principles for correctional mental health care, administrative recommendations, and clinical recommendations for treating this growing population.