NCJ Number
226317
Date Published
January 2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings for the testing of a co-occurring-disorder screening device in the seven district stations of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of the District of Columbia.
Abstract
The testing shows that it is possible to administer such a screening device at the booking stage of criminal justice processing without undermining the efficiency of the process or placing a significant burden on the booking staff. Of the arrestees given the option to complete the universal screener, 87.8 percent agreed to do so; and of those who agreed to participate, 30 percent exhibited some indication of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Of those arrestees who agreed to be screened, 38 percent answered "yes" to at least one mental health question. Females were significantly more likely than males to respond affirmatively to at least one mental health question; 51.2 percent of females and 34.9 percent of males screened indicated they needed additional mental health assessment. The rate of positive response to the substance abuse questions was higher at 51.2 percent; no significant difference by gender was found for substance-abuse responses. No significant difference by race was found for either mental health or substance-abuse screening. Those who screened positive for mental health were most likely to have been booked for some type of assault; and positive screens for substance abuse had higher rates of drug sales and drug or alcohol possession. Generally, the affirmative responses varied across arrestees, although 70.9 percent of those who screened positive for mental health responded affirmatively to a single question. Consideration should be given to changing this question in the future or weighting it compared to the other questions. Similarly, among those who screened positive for substance abuse, 67.7 percent answered affirmatively to a single question. 9 tables