This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Specialty probation lowers risk for rearrest

Specialty mental health probation was associated with lower risk for recidivism compared with traditional probation; however, it did not significantly reduce violence.

“In the United States, rates of mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are three to six times higher in the criminal justice population than the general population. Each year, approximately 2 million people with serious mental illness are booked into the nation’s jails,” Jennifer L. Skeem, PhD, of University of California-Berkeley, and colleagues wrote. “These people typically stay longer in jail than do those without mental illness and, on release, are more likely to be reincarcerated.”

Adults with mental illnesses require two to three times more costs in jails, compared with those without mental illness, with little improvement to public safety or individuals’ health, according to Skeem and colleagues.

To assess impact of specialty probation on public safety outcomes, researchers conducted a longitudinal observational study with group matching on age, sex, race/ethnicity, probation time and offense at two urban agencies utilizing specialty and traditional probation. The study cohort included 359 probationers with serious mental health problems and functional impairment. Study participants and probation officers were assessed three times and follow-up records were analyzed. The cohort had a mean age of 36.9 years.

Overall, 183 participants received specialty probation and 176 received traditional probation.

Specialty probation did not significantly affect violence (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.69-1.36); however, risk for rearrest were 2.68 times higher among participants who received traditional probation (95% CI, 1.86-3.84; P < .001).

At 2 years, risk for rearrest was 28.6% among participants who received special probation and 51.8% for those who received traditional probation.

Arrest effects remained for up to 5 years, according to survival analyses.

“Some hallmarks of specialty mental health probation, such as establishing firm, fair and caring relationships with probationers, are general staples of evidence-based probation,” the researchers wrote. “These study results provide direction for leveraging reform in general probation to help jurisdictions step up their efforts to reduce incarceration specifically for people with mental illness.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.