Lorena Fulton
Ohio State University, USA
Title: Improving Outcomes for Criminal Offenders with Serious Mental Illness
Biography
Biography: Lorena Fulton
Abstract
Recidivism among repeat criminal off enders with serious mental illness is higher than recidivism among non-impaired offenders. Offenders with mental illness, who are released from jail are homeless and utilize publically funded human services, cost communities in terms of crime victimization, or become a burden to taxpayers as indigent patients in medical or psychiatric hospitals. These ongoing problems may be mitigated with effective program and treatment coordination during the incarceration and
after release, because it will increase emotional stability and decrease psychiatric symptoms during the admission and upon release. Outpatient service adherence and formal community supervision are positive factors in reducing re-incarceration for inmates with serious mental illness. The lack of coordination between mental health services and the judicial system and inadequate continued care between incarceration and community settings places communities at risk of crime and off enders at risk of continuing to cycle through the system. Procedure for improving outcomes in the community for offenders with serious mental illness must involve both interagency collaboration and advocacy. Ideally, a small group of stakeholders can come together to create a plan that addresses barriers at diff erent system levels. Sometimes advocacy associated with reducing stigma and educating stakeholders is the first step. For other communities, the first step is to determine the conduits for collaboration between agencies. Th is process requires both a micro and a macro intervention; our efforts to improve collaboration and advocacy must address the system of care simultaneous to addressing the needs of individual persons.