Factors Associated with Mental Health Court Nonparticipation and Negative Termination

Abstract

Mental health court outcomes research shows moderate success in reducing criminal recidivism. Far less research concentrates on defendants who do not choose to participate or are negatively terminated. Eight years of data from a suburban Midwestern mental health court indicate that substance abuse history and having multiple psychiatric diagnoses increased the odds of nonparticipation, while a bipolar diagnosis, the other category of diagnosis, and referral source, decreased the odds. For those negatively terminated, being male, racial minority status, having multiple diagnoses, a charge of stealing, and committing a new crime while under Municipal Mental Health Court supervision increased the odds of negative termination. A substance abuse history, increased mental health court attendance, receiving disability income, and psychiatric medication prescription decreased the odds of negative termination. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed, including better engagement strategies for participation and treatment.

Keywords:

• mental health courts
• nonparticipation
• negative termination
• treatment engagement
• TTM Model of Change

Notes

aModel 1: χ ² at step = 13.42, −2LL = 783.54, Naglekerke R ² = 0.03.

bModel 2: χ ² at step = 48.96**, −2LL = 734.58, Naglekerke R ² = 0.11.

cModel 3: χ ² at step = 7.17, −2LL = 728.61, Naglekerke R ² = 0.13.

dModel 4: χ ² at step = 14.26*,−2LL = 713.15, Naglekerke R ² = 0.15.

aModel 1: χ ² at step = 40.04**, −2LL = 748.33, Naglekerke R ² = 0.09.

bModel 2: χ ² at step = 29.88**, −2LL = 718.44, Naglekerke R ² = 0.15.

cModel 3: χ ² at step = 18.15*, −2LL = 700.30, Naglekerke R ² = 0.18.

dModel 4: χ ² at step = 84.64*, −2LL = 655.68, Naglekerke R ² = 0.33.

eModel 5: χ ² at step = 216.92**, −2LL = 458.47, Naglekerke R ² = 0.57.