Integrating Into the Mental Health System From the Criminal Justice System: Jail Aftercare Services for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness

• NCJ Number: 223141
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 46 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 217-231
• Author(s): Kristin Davis; John Fallon; Sue Vogel; Alexandra Teachout
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports on an evaluation of a mental health evidence-based practice, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), which provides intensive and supportive care by a multidisciplinary team after release from hospital-based treatment.

Abstract

Although ACT has scientific support for its effectiveness, the current study addressed the lack of rigorous testing of ACT's impact on persons with a severe mental illness and repeated involvement with the criminal justice system. This study found ACT's aftercare services to be effective with such individuals when the team included representatives from the criminal justice system skilled in identifying and targeting the multiple needs of offenders with a serious mental illness. Under such interventions ACT was particularly effective in reducing hospitalizations and the number of days incarcerated; it was not as effective, however, in reducing arrests. Given findings from another study that employment has reduced hospitalizations and arrests (Sneed et al., 2006), the authors suggest providing employment services for individuals at high risk for arrest. The authors conclude that ACT is an important intervention for offenders with serious mental illness when they re-enter the community after residential treatment. It complements the traditional criminal justice aftercare monitoring supervision by addressing needs related to poverty, victimization, homelessness, and social isolation, as well as specific mental health needs. ACT aftercare was evaluated by comparing arrests, jail episodes, hospital admissions, and hospitalization episodes 3 years prior to intake and 3 years after intake into ACT. Participants were recruited from Cook County Jail in Chicago. Participants were eligible if they had been referred to Cook County Jail's mental health services, been diagnosed with an Axis I disorder, had appeared in court at least 20 times in their lifetime, and had at least 5 hospitalizations in a lifetime. Between 1999 and 2003, the team served 96 individuals who qualified for this evaluation. 33 references