Prevalence of Validated Screening and Assessment Instruments in Agencies Serving Justice-Involved Individuals

• In Event: Mental Health and Trauma in Corrections

Abstract

Mental health and substance use needs are prevalent among individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) for improving mental health outcomes among justice-involved individuals include the use of screening and assessment to identify individuals with mental health and substance use needs and guide treatment recommendations. However, little is known about the extent to which agencies use validated instruments and/or share assessment information with other relevant agencies in their county. As part of the larger I.M. Justice and Behavioral Health study, we conducted surveys with administrators in mental health, substance use, jails, and probation agencies in 519 counties across the United States. Using 791 survey responses, this study examined three primary research questions: 1) What type of screening and assessment instruments are most common across different agencies serving justice-involved individuals?; 2) How prevalent is the use of validated screening and assessment instruments across different agencies serving justice-involved individuals?; and 3) Do agencies share screening and assessment results? Findings describe current policy practices and inform strategies to improve screening and assessment processes for justice-involved individuals.

Authors

• Ella Schmidt, University of Central Florida

• Paris Cloutier, University of Central Florida

• Jill Viglione, University of Central Florida

• Jennifer E. Johnson, Michigan State University

• Faye S. Taxman, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, George Mason University