Characteristics of participants in jail diversion and prison reentry programs: implications for forensic ACT

More research is needed about forensic assertive community treatment (FACT) and challenges that offenders with severe mental illness present to jail diversion and prison reentry teams. Jail diversion and prison reentry populations may require different interventions and strategies to engage and serve them.

This study used data from a mental health agency in a large urban area in Ohio to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of 212 consumers served by jail diversion FACT teams and 192 consumers served by prison reentry FACT teams.

Findings suggest that jail diversion and prison reentry consumers have different demographic and clinical profiles, which may present unique challenges to FACT teams.

Population- and gender-specific strategies and interventions could be warranted to better serve FACT consumers. This study furthers the literature about the needs of justice-involved consumers and offers important information for providers of FACT for jail diversion and prison reentry.