Differential Treatment of Males and Females: Participants Within a Mental Health Court

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

This study examines interactions within one mental health court (MHC) in the western region of the United States in order to determine if there is differential treatment of the MHC’s male and female participants by the courtroom workgroup (CRWG), and what variables, if any, play into that treatment. The sample consists of (n= 50) two groups: males (34) and females (16) observed through court hearings online for a twelve-month period. These interactions have been measured through incarceration status, phase in the MHC program, social service involvement, criminal record, attitude, appearance, compliance, and familial relationships and an Interaction Score (IS) for each measure for each group will be calculated. The IS consists of the measure of participants who experience any interaction with the CRWG regarding the various measures on a 1 (positive interaction), 0 (neutral interaction), or -1 (negative interaction) scale for each time interaction occurs where the lower the score, the more negative the interactions are with the CRWG. The IS for each measure for males, females, and the sample as a whole in combination with qualitative examinations informs the results of the study. The possible policy and future research implications of the study are also discussed.

Authors

• Madi Uhrik, University of Nevada, Reno

• Emily Berthelot, University of Nevada, Reno