Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals who commit crimes and have mental health concerns tend to do worse while incarcerated. For this reason, mental health diversion programs were created. These programs provide individuals with the necessary treatment and resources so they can be more successful living in the community. These programs often differ in terms of program requirements, and the impact of offender variables on outcomes are often inconsistent. The current study examined two mental health diversion programs in a rural community to examine the relation between offender gender, mental health diagnosis, and charge level in predicting program success and recidivism rates. Results found that program completion was significantly related to lowered recidivism rates. There were no significant findings between gender, mental health diagnosis, and charge level on program completion rates or recidivism rates. Results from this study provide support for the positive impact of diversion program completion on lowering rates of recidivism. This study used conviction rates after program completion or program termination as the method of measuring recidivism, whereas other studies have primarily used arrests or charges during or after program completion. Thus, differences in the measurement of recidivism could account for differences with previous research. Findings regarding the impact of gender, mental health diagnosis, and charge level are inconsistent in previous research, so future studies that continue to examine these variables in large samples would be useful for understanding the variables that are associated with mental health diversion program success.

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