Abstract
Mental health problems are linked to crime, but there is little evidence for a direct relationship, and more data are needed to address the prevalence of mental health problems within the criminal justice system. The multitude of persons with mental health problems who enter the criminal justice system calls for new approaches for diverting these individuals away from the system and addressing their mental health. We provide a bird's-eye view of the mental health interventions implemented throughout various stages of the criminal justice system, including pre-booking crisis response programs (e.g., crisis intervention teams and co-response models) and post-booking recidivism reduction programs (mental health courts, in-custody cognitive behavioral therapy, and forensic assertive community treatments). Police-based crisis response teams show mixed results, primarily improving officers' feelings of efficacy for dealing with individuals with mental illness and referring citizens to services but not having appreciable effects on public safety. Post-booking recidivism reduction programs yield some positive results but lack mental health-focused approaches. Last, we provide recommendations for mental health interventions at the community and criminal justice system level.