Input is requested on Understanding the Impact of Mental Illnesses on Parole and Probation Outcomes

Understanding the Impact of Mental Illnesses on Parole and Probation Outcomes
The Council of State Governments Justice Center is interested in understanding the impact of mental illnesses on parole and probation outcomes and specialized community correction responses for offenders with mental illnesses. A frequent barrier to understanding these issues is the lack of valid data on the prevalence and severity of mental illnesses on parole and probation caseloads. The Justice Center would like to identify probation or parole agencies with a high level of data analysis capacity and the ability to address the following questions:


1. Do you use a mental health screening process, and if so, does this process rely on a validated screening instrument (meaning research in has been conducted in the jurisdiction or in other localities showing that the screening accurately identifies mentally ill persons)? Is there an assessment process that follows screening? How is this information recorded (e.g. electronically or via paper records), who records it, and does it inform caseload assignments?
2. Is the mental health screening process or instrument standardized across counties and/or across jails and prisons?
3. What type of risk instrument is being used and has it been validated? How is this information recorded, who records it, and how does it inform caseload assignments?
4. Does the probation/parole agency have access to mental health information about referred individuals from jails/prisons? If so, how is this information transferred to the probation/parole agency?
5. Does the probation/parole agency have access to risk information about referred individuals from jails/prisons? If so, how is this information transferred to the probation/parole agency?

If you can shed light on these issues and would be willing to participate in a 45-60 minute phone interview, please email Hope Glassberg at the Council of State Governments (hglassberg@csg.org) or call 646-383-5737.