NCJ Number
180979
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 615-627
Date Published
1999
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examines the offender characteristics associated with being selected for diversion from jail to mental health services and assesses the impact of such diversion on outcomes, such as rearrest, hospitalization, and quality of life.
Abstract
The study, which focused on a diversion program in one midwestern city, considered outcomes during the first 2 months after diversion. Information on participants (n=80) was obtained through detainee interviews, staff interviews, and record abstracts. Of the 80 arrestees who agreed to participate in the jail diversion program beginning in December 1995, 35 were successfully diverted, and 45 were not diverted, continuing with the usual criminal justice processing. Significant differences were found between diverted and nondiverted persons in age and gender. Those diverted were more likely to be female (48.6 percent vs. 22.2 percent) and to be older (37.7 versus 33.9 years old). The absence of an alcohol problem was also a significant factor in the selection of a person for diversion. Because all persons in the study were eligible for diversion, no significant differences in criminal justice variables were anticipated nor empirically demonstrated. There were few differences in major outcomes for the diverted and nondiverted groups; however, 16 of the 45 nondiverted subjects remained jailed 2 months after admission, while all 35 of those diverted were released, by definition, from their target offense. This involves a substantial savings on correctional costs. 5 tables and 35 references