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Age does not predict success for those in court-based mental health treatment programs

Date:
April 9, 2014
Source:
University of Missouri-Columbia
Summary:
The amount of older adults in the criminal justice system has quadrupled in the past 15 years. Many of the adults have histories of mental health problems and are placed in court-based treatment programs. Government officials and social workers tend to think these older adults are more likely to experience success compared to their younger counterparts. However, new research shows that mental health court participants older than 50 are just as likely to be reincarcerated or relapse into criminal behavior.
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Statistics show that the amount of older adults in the criminal justice system has quadrupled in the past 15 years. Many of the adults have histories of mental health problems and are being placed in court-based treatment programs, where government officials and social workers tend to think that they are more likely to experience success compared to their younger counterparts. However, new research by Kelli Canada, assistant professor in the University of Missouri School of Social Work, shows that although mental health court participants older than 50 adhere to treatment programs better than younger adults, they are just as likely to be reincarcerated or relapse into criminal behavior.

"Caseworkers often view older adults in mental health courts as more willing to follow guidelines, attend counseling and less likely to violate parole," Canada said. "However, empirical data shows that older adults experience the same substance use, housing instability and risk for reincarceration compared to younger adults."

Mental health courts are intensive treatment programs designed to address individuals' underlying mental problems that contribute to their criminal behaviors. Mental health courts divert criminal offenders from prison into treatment programs, where the emphasis is on mental health assessment, individualized treatment plans and ongoing judicial monitoring.

Canada said that it can be dangerous for court officials to assume that older adults in mental health courts will have better outcomes. Additionally, critics of court-based programs might question the programs' usefulness when participants, who are thought to be at a lower level of risk, relapse or are reincarcerated.

"We need to stop thinking of age as a protective factor in the criminal justice system and mental health courts," Canada said. "We need to make sure individuals receive full assessments of how the program can help them. If older adults are perceived to have lower risk of substance abuse or reincarceration, the treatment teams might not address their needs as thoroughly and effectively."

Canada's study, "Psychosocial and Reincarceration Risks Among Older Adults in Mental Health Courts," appeared in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Kelli E. Canada, Malitta Engstrom, Eunyoung Jang. Psychosocial and Reincarceration Risks Among Older Adults in Mental Health Courts. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.07.002

Cite This Page:

University of Missouri-Columbia. "Age does not predict success for those in court-based mental health treatment programs." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 April 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409204517.htm>.
University of Missouri-Columbia. (2014, April 9). Age does not predict success for those in court-based mental health treatment programs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409204517.htm
University of Missouri-Columbia. "Age does not predict success for those in court-based mental health treatment programs." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409204517.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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