| Popis: |
Mental health courts (MHCs) have emerged as a way to reduce the criminalization of the mentally ill by providing treatment instead of incarceration. MHCs are based on the idea that the treatment of underlying mental illness can reduce further criminal behavior. The current study examines the efficacy of a MHC in reducing recidivism among mentally disordered offenders. There is growing support that MHCs are effective in reducing recidivism, however many studies have short rearrest follow-up periods and narrow definitions of rearrest. In order to address a gap in the literature, this study evaluates multiple measures of recidivism of a MHC over a 10-year follow-up period through the use of logistic regression, negative binomial regression, survival analysis, and competing risks survival analysis. The sample consists of 601 mental health court participants and traditional criminal court participants. Recidivism is assessed across four different outcome variables: frequency, length of time to rearrest, number of rearrests, and rearrest severity. When compared to participants in the traditional criminal court, mental health court participants have less rearrests, longer times to rearrest, and less severe rearrests. In order to give perspective to the findings, labeling theory is used to discuss why MHCs are able to reduce recidivism and to identify potential directions for future research. |
