Developing a new policy model for justice-involved people with mental illness
People with mental illness are grossly overrepresented in the criminal justice system and often experience poor outcomes, including re-arrest. This problem has attracted substantial policy attention. Virtually all programs—from jail diversion to prison re-entry—assume that mental illness is the direct cause of the problem, and linkage with psychiatric services is the solution.
Our research suggests that justice-involved people with mental illness have much in common with their non-ill counterparts, including general risk factors for re-offending. To achieve better outcomes for this group, it is important to look beyond psychiatric explanations and solutions. Currently, we are studying a new, promising Intervention for this group.