2nd Edition
Forensic Mental Health Framing Integrated Solutions
In this book author Michele P. Bratina demonstrates how the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) supports integration of the U.S. healthcare and justice systems to offer more positive outcomes for offenders with mental illness. The book describes a criminal justice–mental health nexus that touches every population—juvenile and adult male and female offenders, probationers and parolees, the aging adult prison population, and victims of crime. In the United States today, the criminal justice system functions as a mental health provider, but at great cost to society. The author summarizes the historical roots of this crisis and provides an overview of mental illness and symptoms, using graphics, case studies, and spotlight features to illustrate the most pressing issues encountered by justice and behavioral health professionals and the populations they serve.
Forensic Mental Health takes a multidisciplinary approach, addressing social work, psychology, counseling, and special education, and covers developments such as case law related to the right to treatment and trauma-informed care. Designed for advanced undergraduates, this text also serves as a training resource for practitioners working with the many affected justice-involved individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, including juveniles and veterans.
CHAPTER 1 An Overview of the Mental Health–Criminal Justice Nexus
Introduction
Mental Health: Definitions, Prevalence, and Common Terminology
Intersections of Criminal Justice and Mental Health: Justice-Involved PwMI
Service Utilization/Treatment Engagement
Challenges in Managing Justice-Involved PwMI
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 2 Historical Responses to Mental Illness
Introduction
Societal Responses to Mental Illness: Thematic Eras
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 3 The Sequential Intercept Model
Introduction
Why Diversion?
Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System: An Integrative Framework
Key Diversion Points
Research on the SIM
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 4 Intercept Zero: Community Services
Introduction
Components of Intercept 0: Prevention, Response, and Ultimate Diversion
Response: The Crisis Care Continuum
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 5 Intercept One: Law Enforcement
Introduction
Police as First Responders to Citizens in Crisis
Specialized Police Responses to Crisis Events
Additional Complexities of LEO–Citizen Encounters: Responding to Special Populations
The Mental Health and Well-Being of Police
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 6 Intercept Two: Initial Detention/Initial Court Hearings
Introduction
Post-Booking Diversion: An Overview
Diversion Strategies
Determining Diversion Program Effectiveness
Processing and Disposition
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 7 Intercept Three: Jails/Courts
Introduction
Part One: Beyond Initial Detention—PwMI Incarcerated
Part Two: Diversion Strategies at Intercept Three
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 8 Intercept Four: Reentry
Introduction
Section One: Reentry for People with Mental Illness (PwMI)
Section Two: Effective Reintegration and the Role of Professional Service Providers
Section Three: Best Practices in Reentry Programming for PwMI
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 9 Intercept Five: Community Corrections
Introduction
Mental Health and Community Corrections
Interagency Cooperation, Intra-Agency Collaboration, and Systems Integration
Resistance to Treatment
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 10 Trauma and Approaches to Trauma-Informed Care
Introduction
What Is Trauma?
Trauma-Informed Care
The Juvenile Justice System’s Response to Trauma
Take-Home Message
CHAPTER 11 Conclusions and Future Directions
Introduction
Review of the Issues and Suggestions for Change
Take-Home Message
Biography
Michele P. Bratina is an Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Previously, she was the Forensic and Children’s Mental Health Coordinator for the Florida Department of Children and Families in the 19th Judicial Circuit—a role that inspired this book. She is Past President of the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS) and holds the position of Region 1 Trustee (Northeast) with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).
Her research has focused on specialized training for criminal justice professionals and the development of community partnerships in forensic mental health. Other areas of interest include secondary trauma among law enforcement officers and examining offending or offending risk and victimization through a trauma-informed lens. Dr. Bratina’s publications have appeared in the Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, International Journal of Police Science and Management, Police Practice and Research, Abuse: An International Impact Journal, Salus: An International Journal of Law Enforcement & Public Safety, the Journal of Correctional Health Care, and the Journal of Community Mental Health.
"A fascinating look at the understudied linkage between mental health and the criminal justice system. A book that needs to be incorporated into criminal justice degree programs to better inform students and practitioners of what's been missing in our efforts to achieve crime prevention and justice more systematically."
Jay Albanese, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
"Bratina combines her academic and practitioner experience to produce an important text. Using the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) framework, she carefully addresses the challenges faced by the individual consumers and personnel in every phase of the criminal justice system, from the streets through prison reentry. This should be mandatory reading for current and future criminal justice, social work, and human service practitioners."
Christine Tartaro, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice, Stockton University
"As the nation moves to reform both the mental health and criminal legal systems, practitioners and policy makers need a solid understanding of the key issues and needs of the people these systems serve. Bratina’s text provides an excellent foundation that highlights systems issues, interventions, and the experiences of professionals and people with mental illnesses. This is an essential text for students and practitioners in fields including social work, criminal justice, and community psychology."
Amy C. Watson, PhD, Professor, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
