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Using the Referral Decision Scale to screen mentally ill jail detainees: validity and implementation issues
B M Veysey1, H J Steadman, J P Morrissey
1Policy Research Associates, Inc., Delmar, New York, USA.
Law and Human Behavior
|May 5, 1998
Summary
Serious mental illness is common in jails. The Referral Decision Scale (RDS) aims to identify individuals needing psychiatric evaluation, but its practical use by correctional staff is limited due to inherent characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Mental Health Screening
- Correctional Healthcare
Background:
- Serious mental illnesses are more prevalent in jail populations compared to the general public.
- Accurate identification of individuals requiring psychiatric evaluation is crucial for both detainees and correctional staff.
- The Referral Decision Scale (RDS) is a common tool used for this screening purpose.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development and validation of the Referral Decision Scale (RDS).
- To assess the practical applicability of the RDS as a screening instrument in correctional settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of the RDS development and validation.
- Analysis of data from a multisite study on postrelease outcomes for detainees with mental illness.
- Examination of various types of validity for the RDS.
Main Results:
- The study addressed multiple facets of RDS validity using multisite data.
- Results indicate that the RDS possesses certain characteristics that significantly hinder its practical use.
- These limitations impact its effectiveness as a screening tool for correctional staff.
Conclusions:
- The Referral Decision Scale (RDS) has limitations that restrict its practical application.
- Screening tools for serious mental illness in correctional facilities require careful consideration of usability and validity.
- Further development or alternative instruments may be needed for effective screening in jail populations.