Supporting People with Serious Mental Illnesses and Reducing Their Risk of Contact with the Criminal Justice System

Hosted by the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative

People who have serious mental illnesses (SMIs) are increasingly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. But as leaders in behavioral health, psychiatrists are in a unique position to address the complex needs of this population. This webinar provides an overview of the primer, Supporting People with Serious Mental Illnesses and Reducing Their Risk of Contact with the Criminal Justice System, a resource designed to help familiarize psychiatrists with the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model—which is used by criminal justice professionals to identify the factors that contribute to a person’s risk of recidivism and tailor interventions based on the identified factors—and provide information on ways psychiatrists can help address the particular needs of this population. During the webinar, participants learn tips for better identifying and addressing the clinical and forensic needs of patients with a criminal justice history and incorporating interventions that address those patients’ criminogenic risks and needs into their treatment plans.