Specialized Mental Health Supervision: Revocations and Risk Composition

• Published date: 01 June 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241232562
• Author: Nicholas K. Powell,Angela Gunter,Mari Roberts,Tonya Van Deinse
• Date: 01 June 2024
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2024, Vol. 51, No. 6, June 2024, 919 –933.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241232562

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

919

SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISION

Revocations and Risk Composition

NICHOLAS K. POWELL

Georgia Department of Community Supervision

Georgia Southern University

ANGELA GUNTER

MARI ROBERTS

The Council of State Governments

TONYA VAN DEINSE

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Although many studies have investigated the disproportionate representation and negative experiences of justice-involved

persons with mental illness (MI), we know less about probation/parole revocations among this population. Using statewide

data and propensity score matching, we compare rates of rearrests and revocations between individuals with and without MI

and assess the effectiveness of Specialized Mental Health Supervision (SMHS) in reducing the likelihood of revocation. In

addition, we examine whether the risk score composition differs among participants of the SMHS program from clients with

MI not placed on SMHS. Findings reveal that persons with MI are more likely to have a revocation, specifically for technical

violations. In addition, SMHS does not significantly lower revocations after controlling for other caseload characteristics.

Finally, those with higher risk scores were significantly less likely to be placed on SMHS caseloads. Considerations for

SMHS implementation are discussed.

Keywords: community supervision; mental illness; probation; parole; revocations; risk assessment

There is a significant overrepresentation of people with mental illnesses in the U.S. legal

system. Compared with the general population, rates of mental illness are at least twice

as high among justice-involved persons (Al-Rousan et al., 2017; Prins, 2014). More specifi-

cally, between 700,000 and 1.2 million people under community supervision (i.e., probation

or parole) have mental health concerns (Crilly et al., 2009; Ditton, 1999; Van Deinse et al.,

2018). Facing complex challenges (e.g., homelessness, addiction, and victimization),

AUTHORS’ NOTE: We have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article

should be addressed to Nicholas K. Powell, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Georgia

Southern University, 2 MLK Jr Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30334; e-mail: nicholas.powell@dcs.ga.gov.

1232562CJBXXX10.1177/00938548241232562Criminal Justice and BehaviorPowell et al. / SMHS: REVOCATIONS AND RISK COMPOSITION

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