Mental Health Court Team Members’ Perceptions about Criminogenic Risk and Mental Health Needs of Clients

• In Event: Jail Diversion and Mental Health Court

Abstract

Mental health courts were developed to address the over-representation of people with mental illness in the justice system. While research has shown mental health courts to be effective at reducing recidivism, other emerging research suggests that factors other than untreated mental illness affect criminal activity for the majority of individuals with mental illness. Thus, research on mental health courts is shifting to better understand how such programs can effectively address clients’ needs across multiple areas of risk, including criminogenic, substance use, and clinical needs.

This study examines how mental health court team members implement treatment strategies to address clients’ criminogenic and clinical needs. I conducted semi-structured interviews with mental health court team personnel and judges at felony and misdemeanor level mental health court programs. Interviews focused on mental health court team members’ perceptions of the responsiveness of the court program to meet clients’ multiple areas of risk and need. The results of this study suggest a variety of perspectives about the need to address criminogenic risk, as well as an array of approaches in doing so. These findings have important implications for program administrators to consider when selecting interventions to address clients’ multiple risk factors and needs.

Author

• Natalie Bonfine, Northeast Ohio Medical University