When Hospitals Turn to Jail: The Troubling Practice of Jailing Mental Health Patients in Mississippi

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Mississippi lacks a psychiatric unit and transfers patients requiring mental health treatment to jail when public facilities are full. This practice, which many consider unethical, has led to trauma and distress for patients and their families. For instance, Sydney Jones, a young woman experiencing psychosis, was twice detained in jail under these circumstances. The hospital defends this by citing the unavailability of nearby inpatient beds and the need for patient safety. However, medical professionals criticize the practice, arguing hospitals should retain patients until proper treatment is available. Efforts to establish a local crisis unit have faced delays, leaving jail as the only option for many in DeSoto County.