Work

Using statewide administrative data and brief mental health screening to estimate the prevalence of mental illness among probationers

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: There is little published information about the measures that probation agencies in the United States use to identify individuals with mental illnesses who are under community supervision. This study used statewide administrative data to estimate and compare the prevalence of mental illnesses among probationers using officer-report and offender self-report data. Prevalence estimates of mental illnesses ranged from 15% to 19%, which is consistent with prior studies that used formal diagnostic assessments. In the absence of costly and time-consuming diagnostic assessments, probation agency-developed mental health scales can aid in identifying those who might be in need of additional mental health assessment.

Source: Probation Journal

DOI: 10.1177/0264550518808369

Authors: Tonya B. Van Deinse, Gary S. Cuddeback, Amy Blank Wilson, Michael Lambert, Daniel Edwards

Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Drug Abuse