Over the past decade, Mental
Health Courts (MHCs) have spread rapidly across the U.S. These courts aim to
reduce recidivism among adults with mental illnesses through diversion into
community-based treatment.
Extant research suggests that MHCs can be effective
in reducing recidivism, but also demonstrates that effectiveness varies as a
function of characteristics of the participants (e.g., criminal history) and
the program (e.g., coercion). Less is known regarding the extent to which
process-related factors (e.g., length of participation, time between referral
and receipt of services) impact effectiveness.
Prior research also is limited
by a focus on recidivism during MHC as opposed to postexit. To address these
knowledge gaps, we examined recidivism 1 year postexit for a group of MHC
participants (n = 57) and offenders receiving treatment as usual (TAU; n = 40),
total N = 97. We also investigated the influence of individual characteristics
and process factors on changes in jail days 1 year preentry to 1 year postexit
for MHC participants.
Overall, results provide some evidence supporting the
effectiveness of MHCs. MHC participants had significantly fewer jail days, but
not charges or convictions, relative to TAU participants. Among MHC
participants, graduation from the MHC, presence of co-occurring substance use,
and longer length of MHC participation were associated with greater reductions
in jail days. Other process factors were unrelated to reductions in recidivism.
Findings suggest that MHCs may be particularly effective for high-risk
participants and that time spent in a MHC has positive effects on recidivism,
regardless of graduation status.
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By:
- 1Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University.
- Law Hum Behav. 2016 Apr;40(2):118-27. doi: 10.1037/lhb0000168. Epub 2015 Nov 23.
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