Research on Mental Health in Criminal Justice at NIDA CJDATS Sites
Concept Clearance — August 2005
Presenter
Denise M. Juliano-Bult, MSW
Chief, Systems Research Program
Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology Program
Division of Services and Intervention Research, NIMH
Description
One in seven inmates in U.S. prisons and jails has a mental illness, and 85 percent of all U.S. correctional facilities provide mental health services to inmates. [U.S. Department of Justice: 1999. Mental Health and Treatment of Inmates and Probationers. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.] It is estimated that approximately three-quarters of incarcerated persons with mental illness have co-occurring substance abuse disorders. [Teplin, L and Abram, K, “ Co-Occurring Disorders among Mentally Ill Jail Detainees: Implications for Public Policy,” American Psychologist 46:10, October 1991, pp 1036-45.] Without adequate community reentry planning, the rate of recidivism for inmates with mental illness can reach to more than 70 percent. [Ventura, LA, Cassel, CA, Jacoby, JE, Huang, B, “Case Management and Recidivism of Mentally Ill Persons Released From Jail,” Psychiatric Services 49:10, Oct. 1998, 1330-37.] There is significant gap in our knowledge of effective mental health services and interventions for this extensive population which includes a growing number of juveniles.
The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to encourage applications for exploratory/developmental studies services and interventions research for mental disorders or co-morbid/combined mental and substance abuse disorders — research which will be conducted within the National Criminal Justice and Drug Abuse Treatment Research System (CJDATS) supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This RFA encourages theory-driven and innovative studies of the effectiveness of intervention approaches for offenders or ex-offenders in the contexts of jail, prison, or community re-entry. Of particular interest are studies focused on mental health or combined services or interventions that, within these contexts: (1) develop and test the effectiveness of existing or innovative strategies; (2) elucidate out-come improving components of mental health/criminal justice collaboration or coordination at a variety of levels including provider, supervisory, systemic, and organizational; (3) delineate the nature and impact of routine clinical practice as it enhances or detracts from optimal client outcomes; and (4) combine the science bases of mental health and criminological rehabilitation.
Conducting the proposed research at one of the CJDATS sites is a prerequisite for funding under this RFA. Applicant principal investigators are required to work collaboratively with CJDATS. Such collaboration might include the joint negotiation of primary research aims, direct participation in research activities, or the establishment of an advisory board to oversee research activities. NIMH access to this research opportunity has been negotiated with the relevant NIDA staff. Innovative mixed-methods approaches are encouraged.
Comments
Submit comments to Jean Noronha at jnoronha@mail.nih.gov.
