Issues in serving the forensic client

In the course of a study of a team model of intensive case management for people with serious mental illness who are homeless and leaving Philadelphia jails, several issues regarding the interaction of mental health and jail systems have arisen. Among these issues are continuity of care in an unpredictable jail system, extensive involvement of family members in the charges brought against clients, and the use of legal sanctions toward therapeutic outcomes. This article discusses these issues both as they have appeared in the literature and as they have affected the progress of the study. Implications for community mental health system interactions with jails in serving forensic clients are explored.