Episode 41: Jails, prisons as mental health facilities

Shawnee Co., Kan. Corrections Director Brian Cole says jails and prisons have become our society’s de facto mental health treatment facilities. It led to the county breaking ground in August 2024 on a dedicated behavioral unit at the jail.

In this conversation, Cole shares how the increased need for mental health care impacts inmates who need help, staff who care for them, and victims waiting for justice.

WIBW is taking a stand for the mental health of our community. Kansas ranks last in the nation for mental healthcare.