On the Over-Valuation of Risk for People with Mental Illnesses
People with mental illnesses and those who have co-occurring substance use disorders are overrepresented in jails across the U.S. While a lack of available, high-quality community-based resources and diversion alternatives is a contributing factor to these numbers, another reason is a common misperception that people with mental illnesses pose a greater threat to public safety than those without. Often judges, even with good intentions, make decisions about pretrial release and sentencing with these misperceptions in mind. This brief, however, highlights seven consensus statements from a panel of judges, researchers, and forensic psychiatrists on the overestimation of risk among this population and notes that they will more likely be victims of crime than the ones perpetrating them. It also calls for a better understanding of risk among this population in an effort to reduce the numbers of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system.
Reentering the community can be a jarring experience. STRIVE, a San Diego-based organization, demonstrates how job readiness programs…
Read MorePennsylvania's Justice Reinvestment legislation, signed into law in December 2019, is expected to save the state millions and…
Read MoreMichigan is one of 17 states that not only offers advanced education opportunities behind bars, but also ensures…
Read More
Reentering the community can be a jarring experience. STRIVE, a San Diego-based…
Read More
Pennsylvania's Justice Reinvestment legislation, signed into law in December 2019, is expected…
Read More
Michigan is one of 17 states that not only offers advanced education…
Read More
Former inmates need jobs and employers are looking for workers. So where's…
Read More
A new 50-state report reveals how state policies fail to support—and often…
Read More
Dr. Sadique Isahaku has dedicated much of his career to improving education…
Read More