Citation
Frank, Richard & McGuire, Thomas G. (2010). Mental health treatment and criminal justice outcomes. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series. vol. No. 15858Abstract
Are many prisoners in jail or prison because of their mental illness? And if so, is mental health treatment a cost-effective way to reduce crime and lower criminal justice costs? This paper reviews and evaluates the evidence assessing the potential of expansion of mental health services for reducing crime. Mental illness and symptoms of mental illness are highly prevalent among adult and child criminal justice populations. The association between serious mental illness and violence and arrest is particularly strong among individuals who are psychotic and do not adhere to medication. Two empirical studies augment the empirical research base relating mental illness to crime. In a recent community sample of adults, we find higher rates of arrest for those with serious mental illness and with substance abuse. Among youth, even with family fixed effects, antisocial personality scores predict future school problems and arrests. A large body of research tracks mental health and criminal justice outcomes associated with treatments and social policies. Reviews of the cost-effectiveness of treatments for children with behavioral problems, mental health courts, and mandatory outpatient treatment are inconclusive.URL
http://www.nber.org/papers/w15858Notes
Author contact info: Richard G. Frank Department of Health Care Policy Harvard Medical School 180 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 Tel: 617/432-0178 Fax: 617/432-1219 E-Mail: frank@hcp.med.harvard.edu Thomas McGuire Department of Health Care Policy Harvard Medical School 180 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 Tel: 617/432-3536 E-Mail: mcguire@hcp.med.harvard.eduReference Type
Journal ArticleJournal Title
National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper SeriesAuthor(s)
Frank, RichardMcGuire, Thomas G.