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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 1:44 am
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Results for mentally ill offenders (u.s.)
4 results foundAuthor: Epperson, Matthew Title: The Next Generation of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Interventions: Improving Outcomes by Improving Interventions Summary: The over-representation of persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) in the criminal justice system has been a cause of concern for several decades. In 1972, psychiatrist David Abramson published an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry describing what he referred to as the “criminalization of mentally disordered behavior,” meaning increasing numbers of individuals with SMI who formerly had been state hospital patients were now to be found in jails and prisons. Since that time, numerous studies have been conducted to estimate the prevalence of SMI among criminal justice populations. The first such study was conducted by Teplin and colleagues in Chicago’s Cook County Jail (Teplin, 1990; Teplin, Abram, & McClelland, 1996). Using then state-of-the art epidemiologic techniques, they estimated a prevalence of SMI and co-occurring substance abuse that substantially exceeded the general population rates obtained in the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study (Robins & Regier, 1991). Although prevalence estimates in subsequent studies have varied, a meta-analysis of 62 surveys from 12 countries indicates roughly 14% of persons in the criminal justice system suffer from one or more SMI (Fazel & Danesh, 2002). Some of the most recent research conducted confirms previous estimates; the rate of SMI in five U.S. jails was estimated at 14.5% for male inmates and 31% for female inmates (Steadman, Osher, Robbins, Case, & Samuels, 2009). Based on this body of research, it is estimated that over one million adults with SMI are under correctional supervision, and most are living in the community while being supervised (Ditton, 1999; James & Glaze, 2006). In response to this notable shift of adults with SMI from public sector mental health services to the criminal justice system, numerous programs have been developed to serve people with SMI at many different points within the legal system. These include police training, jail diversion, drug and mental health courts, specialized probation, crisis intervention teams, and others. Although these interventions have developed over more than two decades and focus on various types of criminal justice involvement, we refer to these programs collectively as “first generation interventions.” We characterize these interventions as a group because they are largely united by a singular theme: the reduction or elimination of criminal justice involvement for people with SMI is achieved primarily by providing these individuals with mental health treatment. While some of the first generation interventions have demonstrated efficacy and several have earned recognition as evidence-based practices, a general consensus has emerged that collectively we are not maximizing the effectiveness of first generation interventions (Blitz, Wolff, Pan, & Pogorzelski, 2005; Skeem, Manchak, & Peterson, 2011). This is perhaps best illustrated by the aforementioned range of prevalence studies which, over the course of two decades, do not demonstrate any meaningful reduction in the over-representation of persons with SMI in the U.S. criminal justice system. Additionally, although several of these first generation interventions have made strides in developing collaborative efforts between mental health and criminal justice systems, these interventions tend to exist as primarily “mental health” or “criminal justice” interventions, and as such do not typically reflect integrated philosophies, services, and outcomes. The purpose of this monograph is to suggest ways in which we can build and improve upon first generation interventions and develop the “next generation” of behavioral health and criminal justice interventions — interventions that better address the multiple and complex needs of persons with SMI who are at risk of criminal justice involvement. We begin in section one by describing a variety of first generation interventions, summarizing the literature on their strengths and weaknesses, and illustrating how these interventions are united by a common theme of connecting individuals with mental health services. In section two, we present a complex set of individual and environmental factors contributing to criminal justice involvement to be targeted in the next generation of interventions. These factors are supported by both conceptual and empirical scholarly work, much of which has been conducted by teams represented by the authors of this monograph. Section three presents findings from a web-based survey and workshop discussions with practitioners working with justice-involved persons with SMI conducted by the authors. This section highlights the critically important, but oft-ignored, voices of those working directly with justice-involved persons with SMI, and suggests how their lived experiences in working with this population can inform the next generation of interventions. Finally, in section four, we outline a blueprint for effective change in which we present goals, unifying principles, and key components to shape the next generation of interventions. Much progress has been made in developing a first generation of mental health and criminal justice interventions to better serve persons with SMI who are justice-involved. This first generation of interventions has surely brought a greater recognition and understanding of the disproportionate representation of people with SMI in the criminal justice system. If, however, we are to improve a range of outcomes for this population and ultimately reduce the ranks of people with SMI in the criminal justice system, it would serve us well to critically examine existing interventions, learn from their successes and failures, and use this knowledge to shape a new and improved generation of behavioral health interventions that can achieve the outcomes desired by consumers, providers, and communities. Details: New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Behavioral Health Services and criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2011 at: http://cbhs-cjr.rutgers.edu/pdfs/The_next_generation_Monograph_Sept_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://cbhs-cjr.rutgers.edu/pdfs/The_next_generation_Monograph_Sept_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122972 Keywords: Mental Health ServicesMentally Ill Offenders (U.S.) |
Author: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Title: Lifelines: Linking to Federal Benefits for People Exiting Corrections Summary: This three volume set offers state and local officials and corrections administrators a blueprint for linking inmates of jails and prisons who have psychiatric disabilities to federal benefits promptly upon their release back into the community. The text walks users through steps for aligning the complex rules of federal benefit programs to state and local policies in order to create a system of services and support for released inmates. A plan for action at the facility level lists steps that administrators can take within existing rules to address re-entry issues for inmates with psychiatric disabilities. Volume 1 makes the case for action. Volume 2 details what state and local governments and corrections facilities need to do to enable incarcerated individuals with mental illnesses to access essential benefits and services upon release. Volume 3 is an appendix with resource materials and links to online sources. Details: Washington, DC: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, 2009. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 21, 2011 at: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-_dbVoVTKis%3d&tabid=104 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-_dbVoVTKis%3d&tabid=104 Shelf Number: 123075 Keywords: Mental Health ServicesMentally Ill Offenders (U.S.)Prisoner Reentry |
Author: Parsons, Jim Title: Closing the Gap: Using Criminal Justice and Public Health Data to Improve the Identification of Mental Summary: This report describes findings from the Vera Institute of Justice’s District of Columbia Forensic Health Project—a study of the mental health needs of people arrested in the District of Columbia designed to fill a gap in the available information on this high-need and underserved population. The project was developed by Vera’s Substance Use and Mental Health Program (SUMH) to provide criminal justice and health agencies with information to improve the delivery of mental health services to people involved in the criminal justice system in the District of Columbia (referred to as “DC” throughout this report). The identification and treatment of people with mental health needs who are involved with the criminal justice system is an ongoing priority in DC, as demonstrated by the establishment of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health Services Integration Taskforce (SATMHSIT) in 2006. The findings of this study support the strategic recommendations of the task force and the work of individual health and justice agencies by providing the most comprehensive quantitative assessment to date of the mental health needs of people arrested in DC. The study uses administrative data supplied by five government agencies to track criminal justice system involvement and markers of psychiatric need for a cohort of 2,874 people arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) during June 2008. In addition to the arrest data provided by MPD, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA), the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (DOC), the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA) provided client-specific data describing contacts with members of the study cohort between 2006 and 2011.1 This is the first time that records from these agencies have been combined into an aggregate dataset. Vera researchers calculated rates of mental illness based on the indicators of psychiatric need provided by each of the agencies (for example, formal diagnosis, or contact with specialized mental health supervision teams) for the study cohort. They sought to answer two basic questions: >>Which people arrested in DC have mental health needs? >>When this population comes into contact with local and relevant federal criminal justice agencies, do these agencies recognize their mental health needs?2 The research had three goals: to inform ongoing initiatives in DC seeking to improve access to treatment services; to support the design of new policies and programs; and to provide a baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of new initiatives. The key study findings include: >>About 33 percent of adult DC residents arrested during June 2008 had some indication of mental health need in partner agency records between 2006 and 2011. >>Many of those arrested with mental health needs were not known to community mental health care providers. Most of the cohort members who had mental health needs (83 percent) were known to at least one criminal justice agency as having such a need between 2006 and 2011. Yet the Department of Mental Health knew about only 59 percent of the cohort members who had mental health needs during that same period. 3 >>Criminal justice agencies often failed to identify the mental health needs of the people that they encountered. Six hundred sixty-six cohort members with mental health needs came into contact with probation, pretrial services, or the jail as a result of the June 2008 arrest; however, almost half (46 percent) of this group was not identified as having a mental health need by any of the agencies during those contacts. >>Thirty-three percent of the cohort members known to the Department of Mental Health as having a psychotic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder were not identified by any of the criminal justice agencies; rates of identification of mental health need by the criminal justice agencies were even lower for people with other diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety disorders. The report concludes with a series of recommendations aimed at increasing rates of identification of mental health problems by DMH and criminal justice agencies in DC. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2012 at: http://www.vera.org/download?file=3544/closing-the-gap-report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/download?file=3544/closing-the-gap-report.pdf Shelf Number: 125791 Keywords: Drug OffendersMental Health ServicesMentally Ill Offenders (U.S.)Substance Abuse Treatment |
Author: Skinner, Beth Ann Title: To What Extent Does Prisoners' Mental Illness Undermine Programming Effectiveness? Summary: Careful review of the literature found prison programs having a positive impact on post-release outcomes in employment and lowered recidivism rates. Most of the literature reviewed found negative effects of mental illness on post-release success. This study expands the literature on prison programming and mental illness by examining the dynamics between mental illness, program completion, and post-release success. Furthermore, this research can be linked to Hirschi’s social bond theory, which created a framework to view the relationship between prison programming and increased ties to conventional society through commitment, attachment, and involvement. This study examines the impact of mental illness and prison vocational and educational programming on reentry outcomes (employment rates, length of employment, enrollment in and completion of school, and recidivism) and the relationship between mental illness and program completion. Additionally, the study examines the interactions of mental illness and prison programming on reentry outcomes. The sample consists of male offenders released onto parole in the State of Iowa (N=3426). Vocational training had positive significant effects on employment rates and full-time employment. An additional analysis found a significant indirect relationship between vocational training and recidivism through employment. Mental illness had a negative significant impact on completion of vocational programming, GED classes, and employment outcomes. Furthermore, it was found that having a mental illness significantly increased the likelihood of recidivism. The interaction of mental illness and programming on reentry outcomes did not have a significant impact. However, the interaction of mental illness and vocational programming had a positive significant impact on full-time employment in the opposite direction of prediction. The results inform social work practice and policy on the benefits of prison programming and the negative impact of mental illness on participation in programs and reentry outcomes. Details: Ames, IA: University of Iowa, 2010. 160p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 18, 2012 at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2072&context=etd Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2072&context=etd Shelf Number: 126373 Keywords: Mental HealthMentally Ill Offenders (U.S.)Prisoner ReenetryVocational Education and Training |