Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Targeting Criminal Recidivism in Mentally Ill Offenders: Structured Clinical Approaches

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Decreasing criminal recidivism in justice-involved individuals with mental illness, is among the most consistently desired outcomes by programs, policy makers and funding agencies. Evidencebased practices with track records of effectiveness in treating mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse, while important clinically, do not necessarily address criminal recidivism. Addressing recidivism, therefore, may require a more targeted criminal justice focus. In this paper, we describe recent challenges to decriminalization approaches and review factors associated with recurrent criminal behavior. In particular, we focus on structured clinical interventions which were created or adapted to target the thoughts and behaviors associated with criminal justice contact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almquist, L., & Dodd, E. (2009). Mental health courts: A guide to research-informed policy and practice. New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, D. A., & Bonta, J. (1998). The psychology of criminal conduct (2nd ed.). Cincinati, Ohio: Anderson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aos, S., Miller, M., & Drake, E. (2006). Evidence based adult corrections programs: What works and what does not. Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashford, J. B., Wong, K. W., & Sternbach, K. O. (2008). Generic correctional programming for mentally ill offenders. A pilot study. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35, 457–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baillargeon, J., Binswanger, I. A., Penn, J. V., Williams, B. A., & Murray, O. J. (2009). Psychiatric disorders and repeat incarcerations: The revolving prison door. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166(1), 103–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berzins, L. G., & Trestman, R. L. (2004). The development and implementation of dialectical behavior therapy in forensic settings. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 3(1), 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bush, J., & Bilodeau, B. (1993). Options: A cognitive change program. Longmont, CO: National Institute of Corrections.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, W. A., Rosenfeld, B., Magyar, M., & Rotter, M. (2009). An exploration of criminal thinking styles among civil psychiatric patients. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 19, 334–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Case, B., Steadman, H. J., Dupuis, S. A., & Morris, L. S. (2009). Who succeeds in jail diversion programs for persons with mental illness? A multi-site study. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 27(5), 661–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly, J. P., & Scott, M. F. (1999). Evaluation of an offending behavior programme with a mentally disordered offender population. British Journal of Forensic Practice, 1, 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evershed, S., Tennant, A., Boomer, D., Rees, A., Barkham, M., & Watson, A. (2003). Practice-based outcomes for dialectical-behavioural therapy targeting anger and violence, with male forensic patients: A pragmatic and non-contemporaneous comparison. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 13, 198–213.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galietta, M., Finneran, V., Fava, J., & Rosenfeld, B. (2009). Treatment refractory populations and clinical problems: Antisocial and psychopathic personalities. In D. McKay, S. Taylor, & J. Abramawitz (Eds.), Cognitive-behavior therapy: Lessons learned from refractory cases (pp. 385–405). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golden, L. (2002). Evaluation of the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral program. For offenders on probation: Thinking for a Change. http://www.nicic.org/pubs/2002/018190.pdf.

  • Jurginger, J., Claypoole, K., Laygo, R., & Crisanti, A. (2006). Effects of serious mental illness and substance abuse on criminal offenses. Psychiatric Services, 57(6), 879–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kluger J. (n.d.). Retrieved 8/23/2010 from New York State Unified Court System Problem Solving Courts. Website: https://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/problem_solving/mh/home.shtml.

  • Kunz, M., Yates, K. F., Czobor, P., Rabinowitz, S., Lindenmayer, J. P., & Volavka, J. (2004). Course of patients with histories of aggression and crime after discharge from a cognitive-behavior program. Psychiatric Services, 55, 654–659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H. R., Weinberger, L. E., & Gross, B. H. (1999). Community treatment of severely mentally ill offenders under the jurisdiction of the criminal justice system: a review. Psychiatric Services, 50(7), 907–913.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamberti, J. S. (2007). Understanding and preventing criminal recidivism among adults with psychotic disorders. Psychiatric Services, 58, 773–781.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Little, G. L., & Robinson, K. D. (1988). Moral reconation therapy: A systematic step-by-step treatment system for treatment resistant clients. Psychological Reports, 62, 135–151.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Little, G. L., Robinson, K. D., & Burnette, K. D. (1994). Treating offenders with cognitive-behavioral therapy: 5-year recidivism outcome data on MRT. Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Review, 3, 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMurran, M., Charlesworth, P., Duggan, C., & McCarthy, L. (2001). Controlling angry aggression: a pilot group intervention with personality disordered offenders. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 29(4), 473–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milkman, H., & Wanberg, T. D. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral treatment: A review and discussion for corrections professionals. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey, J., Meyer, P., & Cuddeback, G. (2007). Extending assertive community treatment to criminal justice settings: Origins, current evidence, and future directions. Community Mental Health Journal, 43(5), 527–544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osher, F. C., & Steadman, H. J. (2007). Adapting evidence-based practices for persons with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system. Psychiatric Services, 58(11), 1472–1478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson J., Skeem J., Hart E., Vidal S., & Keith F. (2010). Analyzing offense patterns as a function of mental illness to test the criminalization hypothesis. Psychiatric Services, 61, 1217–1222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porporino, F. J., & Fabiano, E. (2005). The Focusing on Reentry Programme (F.O.R.): theory and conceptual overview. Ottawa, Canada: T3 Associates Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redlich, A. D., Steadman, H. J., Monahan, J., Robbins, P. C., & Petrila, J. (2006). Patterns of practice in mental health courts: A national survey. Law and Human Behavior, 30(3), 347–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson D. (1995). The impact of cognitive skills training on post-release recidivism among Canadian federal offenders. (Research Report No. R-41.) Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada.

  • Rosenfeld, B., Galietta, M., Ivanoff, A., Garcia-Mansilla, A., Martinez, R., Fava, J., et al. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy for the treatment of stalking offenders. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 6(2), 95–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, R. R., Fabiano, E. A., & Ewles, C. D. (1988). Reasoning and rehabilitation. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 32, 29–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, M., McQuistion, H. L., Broner, N., & Steinbacher, M. (2005). Best practices: The impact of the “incarceration culture” on reentry for adults with mental illness: A training and group treatment model. Psychiatric Services, 56, 265–267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, M., & Olson, E. (2010). Targeting criminal recidivism in mentally ill offenders: Cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. Orlando, Florida: Presented at the CMHS National Gains Center Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skeem, J., Manchak, S., Vidal, S., & Hart, E. (2009). Probationers with mental disorder: What (really) works? Paper presented at the American Psychology and Law Society (AP-LS) Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.

  • Steadman, H. J., Holohean, E. J., Jr, & Dvoskin, J. (1991). Estimating mental health needs and service utilization among prison inmates. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 19(3), 297–307.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, H. J., Osher, F. C., Robbins, P. C., Case, B., & Samuels, S. (2009). Prevalence of serious mental illness among jail inmates. Psychiatric Services, 60(6), 761–765.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L. (1994). Psychiatric and substance abuse among male urban jail detainees. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 290–293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M., Osher, F., & Tomasini-Joshi, D. (2008). Improving responses to people with mental illness: The essential elements of a mental health court. New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong, L. S. J., & Farrington, D. P. (2006). How effective is the “Reasoning and Rehabilitation” program in reducing offending? A meta-analysis of evaluations in four countries. Psychology, Crime & Law, 12, 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walters, G. D. (1999). Short-term outcome of inmates participating in the lifestyle change program. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 322–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walters, G. D. (2005). Recidivism in released lifestyle change program participants. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 32, 50–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, S. J., & Ross, R. R. (2007). R&R2 for youths and adults with mental health problems: A prosocial competence training program. Ottawa: Cognitive Centre of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1500 Waters Place, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA

    Merrill Rotter

  2. Department of Psychology, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    W. Amory Carr

Authors
  1. Merrill Rotter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Amory Carr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merrill Rotter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rotter, M., Amory Carr, W. Targeting Criminal Recidivism in Mentally Ill Offenders: Structured Clinical Approaches. Community Ment Health J 47, 723–726 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9391-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9391-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation