The Criminal/Legal Experiences of Individuals with Mental Illness along the Sequential Intercept Model: An Eight-Site Study

Abstract

Studies suggest that up to 44% of individuals in the criminal/legal system have a severe mental illness (SMI), and although diversion programs have been established, a significant portion still end up incarcerated. The Sequential Intercept Model is a framework designed to reduce the overrepresentation of individuals with SMI in the criminal/legal system by identifying points of interception to prevent individuals from entering or moving further into the system. Although studies assess programs in each intercept, none has evaluated how individuals process through all intercepts. Using data from eight counties ( N = 1,160), this exploratory study assesses criminal/legal involvement across each intercept between individuals identified with ( n = 880) or without ( n = 280) SMI. Findings indicate longer stays in jail, low rates of treatment engagement and enrollment in specialty courts, and poorer diversion outcomes for individuals with SMI. Recommendations for research, policies, and practices are proposed to advance Smart Decarceration efforts.

Gender, Geography, and Justice: Behavioral Health Needs and Mental Health Service Use Among Women in Rural Jails

“…These findings suggest a combination of empirical identification instruments validated for use with both women and men, training of correctional staff to visually identify behavioral health needs, and use of behavioral health questions to identify and then address behavioral health needs. Furthermore, the resources needed to implement, score, and build formalized referral pathways to jail- and community-based services is critical, specifically in rural communities where resources are particularly scarce and there are fewer jail alternatives than in urban communities (Comartin, Nelson, et al, 2021; Vera Institute of Justice, n.d. ).…”

“…As the number of women in jail continues to steadily grow, so must attention to the treatment of women during their jail stays. Given women’s elevated substance use and mental health, behavioral health, needs as they enter jail, it is no surprise that jails can struggle to meet these needs during their women’s periods of incarceration—and this may be especially true in under-resourced rural jails (Comartin, Nelson, et al, 2021). For example, inadequate mental health screening tools might leave jail staff to attempt to identify on their own symptoms of mental illness or substance use disorders among women during intake.…”

Multi-Level Barriers to Prison Mental Health and Physical Health Care for Individuals With Mental Illnesses

“…Although initiatives like jail diversion programs and mental health courts are intended to keep people with mental illnesses in the community, they remain overrepresented within the prison population (22). The high prevalence rates of mental illnesses among people in prison is due, in part, to people with mental illnesses spending an average of 15 months longer in prison than people without mental illnesses, even when charged with similar crimes (23).…”

Traumatic experiences among individuals with severe mental illnesses on probation

“…Probation violations and revocations can impact negatively on probationers' ability to obtain and maintain a treatment routine to stabilise their symptoms. Often already finding it difficult to remember or keep appointments, many individuals on probation who have mental illnesses have treatment further disrupted due to technical violations, probation revocation and jail and/or prison stays (Comartin et al, 2021;Louden & Skeem, 2011). Moreover, treatment adherence and probation requirements are often inextricably linked such that failure to adhere to treatment is considered a failure to meet probation requirements.…”