Background:

People with mental illnesses are over-represented throughout the criminal justice system and the vast majority of the correctional population – nearly 70% – are under community supervision (i.e., probation or parole). Large probation caseload sizes, the lack of adequate mental health training for officers, and limited community-based resources create significant supervision challenges for managing high prevalence rates of mental illness.

Specialty mental health probation (SMHP) has proliferated as a promising strategy to manage the large numbers of individuals on probation with mental illnesses. Five key elements are basic to SMHP: (1) caseloads consisting exclusively of individuals with mental illnesses; (2) reduced caseload size; (3) ongoing mental health training for officers; (4) a problem-solving supervision orientation; and (5) collaboration with community-based service providers.

Aims:

• Aim 1: To assess the efficacy of Specialty Mental Health Probation (SMHP) and Individual Placement and Support - Supported Employment (IPS-SE) to improve employment outcomes for people on probation with serious mental illness (SMI).

• Aim 2: To assess the efficacy of SMHP and IPS-SE to improve mental health outcomes (i.e. functioning, stigma, social support) and criminal legal outcomes (i.e. recidivism, violations, revocations) for people on probation with SMI.

• Aim 3: To assess the challenges, facilitators, acceptability, and appropriateness of implementing IPS-SE within the SMHP context.

Principal Investigator:

Gary Cuddeback

Atricles:

Cuddeback, G.S., Van Deinse, T.B., DiRosa, E, Murray-Lichtman, A., Givens, A., & Cowell Mercer, M. (2023). Adapting Evidence Based Supported Employment within Specialty Mental Health Probation: A Type I Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial Protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 134, 107342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107342