Honors College Theses
Publication Date
11-1-2025
Major
Psychology (B.S.)
Release Option
Open Access
Faculty Mentor
H. Chris Tecklenburg
Abstract
This thesis explores the effects of four landmark Supreme Court cases on the deinstitutionalization movement in the American south. Previous literature frequently discusses the legislative implications of this era; however, no law is applicable without the interpretation and application of the judiciary, which so often contextualizes the greater public perspective. Rarely has an analysis of judicial decisions involving psychiatric care merged with regional focus, and certainly not in a format accessible to the average individual.
From unmarked graves to abandoned infrastructure, the legacy of historic psychiatric care in the United States has been largely obscured – yet its consequences continue to affect systemic problems faced today. To that end, this thesis includes an accompanying original musical composition inspired by this progression, intended to make the concepts presented here both intellectually coherent and emotionally relevant to wider audiences.
Ultimately, this analysis emphasizes the judiciary's central role in shaping public mental health policy and warns of the long-term effects of reform motivated by political pressure rather than a genuine understanding of community need. The accompanying music translates this tension between institutional efficiency and human need into a format accessible beyond the written word, preserving forgotten history and propelling viewers into a better future.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Eva-Marie V., "The Progression of Deinstitutionalization and Its Effects on the American South: A Judicial Analysis of 20th-Century United States Supreme Court Decisions" (2025). Honors College Theses. 1066.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/1066
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